"Good afternoon, Your Excellency, Ambassador!" This time, instead of sitting behind his desk and waiting for Ichiro Honno, Izvorsky waited at the door of his office. After seeing Ichiro Honno, he also took the initiative to stretch out his hand to say hello.

"Greetings, Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary." Ichiro Motono was very satisfied with Izvorsky's performance, and his vanity was greatly satisfied. You know, even after Japan won the Russo-Japanese War, the Russians never looked at them squarely. Now that the Russians are being cornered by the Northern Army, this is an excellent opportunity for Japan!

"You may be seated, Your Excellency. Bring two cups of coffee. Izvorsky instructed the secretary.

The two sat down separately, and the secretary brought coffee and left the office. In the office, only Izvorsky and Ichiro Motono were left. Izvorsky also knew that it was a very humiliating thing for Russia to take the initiative to ask Japan for help this time. So, the fewer people who know, the better. As Japan's ambassador to Russia, Ichiro Honno is also proficient in the Russian army. The two of them talked, and there would be no problems.

"Your Excellency, the last time you proposed that Japan and Russia unite against the northern army. I wonder if this proposal is still valid? Izvorsky asked. After saying this, he himself felt a little blushing.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Minister, didn't you already refuse the request of the Empire of Japan last time?" Ichiro Honno began to play dumb.

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Izvorsky's face. True, last time Russia did reject the Japanese proposal. But that's because they thought they could defeat the Northern Army with their own strength, who knew that the Northern Army was so powerful, they not only defeated, but even had the possibility of losing the war. Therefore, I can only think of the Japanese again.

See Izvorsky's expression. Ichiro Motono felt very comfortable.

"Damn old Maozi, now you know how powerful the Great Japanese Empire is, right? Who told you to reject the Empire of Japan in the first place? Ichiro Motono said secretly in his heart.

"Your Excellency, the Russian Empire, after careful consideration, considers the Northern Army to be the enemy of our two countries. We can unite and send troops against the Northern Army. If the Northern Army is allowed to develop, it will eventually become a serious problem for us. Izvorsky said.

Ichiro Honno nodded, between the Northern Army and Japan. There is also a deep hatred. A strong Northern Army, again, is not what the Japanese want to see. This would deprive Japan of the opportunity to invade Chinese mainland. If the Northern Army can be destroyed, it will naturally be the best. This is also very beneficial for Japan.

"Your Excellency, if the Empire of Japan sends troops, what will we get?" Ichiro Motono asked.

"Your Excellency, didn't you already make a request last time? After the defeat of the Northern Army, Japan's interests in the southern part of the Northeast, as stipulated in the Treaty of Portsmouth, would be restored. Izvorsky said.

However, Ichiro Motono shook his head. Last time. It was Japan that took the initiative to join the war, which is why such conditions were proposed. And now, the situation is different. This time it was the Russians who were defeated, hoping that Japan would come to their aid. Therefore, it is only natural that the conditions in Japan are rising.

"Your Excellency, according to the information we have received, it seems that your country has suffered a crushing defeat in the war. Hundreds of thousands of troops were annihilated. The entire Governorate of Eastern Siberia and the Governorate of the Far East were in danger of falling under the control of the Northern Army. The Northern Army has completely established its superiority. If the Japanese Army were to join the war at this time, we would have to take a big risk. So. We need to change the conditions. Ichiro Honno said. This is a great opportunity for the lion to open his mouth, and it must not be missed.

A flash of anger flashed across Izvorsky's face, the Japanese would take the opportunity to raise the conditions, which he had long expected. However, the feeling of being coerced by the Japanese still made him very angry. But he could only suppress the anger in his heart. so as not to cause trouble for yourself.

"Your Excellency, the current northeast and south are no longer the same as they were then. The government of the North has built a heavy industry base in the southern part of Tohoku, and it would be very helpful for Japan if it could regain the southern part of Tohoku. At the very least, this will allow Japan's heavy industry to grow by leaps and bounds. Izvorsky said.

"That's true. The government of the North has been developing heavy industry. However, this also made the combat effectiveness of the Northern Army extremely strong. If the Japanese Army wants to win this battle, we will also have to pay a greater price. Ichiro Honno still didn't let go.

"Well, Your Excellency, what do you want?" Izvorsky asked. If it continues to drag on, it will be more and more unfavorable to Russia. It would be better for them to be able to agree as soon as possible.

"The whole Northeast! Unless Russia is willing to surrender the entire Northeast to the Great Japanese Empire. Ichiro Honno said.

"No way, absolutely impossible." Izvorsky immediately refused. In the north of China, the northeast is undoubtedly the richest place. If the Japanese get the whole of Tohoku, they will get rapid development. This is very likely to pose a threat to the Russian Far Eastern Governorate and the Eastern Siberian Governorate. After all, Russia's center of gravity has always been in Europe, and the Far East is too far away from them.

"Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary, this is a good deal. After we have defeated the Northern Army with our joint forces, you will not only be able to keep the Far Eastern Governorate and the Eastern Siberian Governorate, but you will also be able to get the whole of Mongolia. And we, the Great Japanese Empire, have only gotten Tohoku. If the Japanese Empire had stood by and watched, Russia would most likely have lost the war. Think about what you will pay if Russia loses the war. Ichiro Honno didn't give in, and he didn't mean to compromise at all.

The expression on Izvorsky's face kept changing, and he was very aggrieved. The Japanese look like they've settled on Russia. He wanted to reject the unreasonable demands of the Japanese cleanly. But he knew he couldn't do that. If the Japanese had decided to sit idly by, Russia might have lost the war.

"Your Excellency, I need to report to Your Majesty." Izvorsky said.

"I understand, Your Excellency the Foreign Secretary." Ichiro Honno nodded. In fact, he also needs to report to the country. Originally, the Japanese were ambitious and wanted to join the war. However, the warnings of Britain and France made them dare not act rashly. As for this time, the Russians took the initiative to send out an invitation, and what the Japanese government would choose, Ambassador Ichiro Honno did not dare to guarantee.

Although, Tsar Nicholas II was very dissatisfied with the greed of the Japanese. But under the persuasion of his ministers, he finally accepted Ichiro Honno's conditions. As long as Japan sent troops to attack the Northern Army, after the two of them destroyed the Northern Army, they would hand over the entire Northeast to the Japanese. After all, for the Russians in front of them, the most important thing is to win the Northern Army.

However, in this case, the ball is kicked at the feet of the Japanese. How should the Japanese choose?

Japanese Prime Minister Saionji Konobo held an emergency meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Kasumigaseki, which was attended by the five prime ministers of the Japanese Cabinet, the Minister of the Interior, the Chief of Staff and the Director of Education of the Army, the Minister of Military Orders of the Navy, the Commander of the Combined Fleet, and other military and political ministers.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let Lin Jun introduce to you what happened." Xiyuan Temple Gongwang said.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Imperial Japanese ambassador to Russia, Ichiro Honno, sent back a report claiming that the Russians wanted us to attack the Northern Army with them. After the destruction of the Northern Army, the entire Northeast can be handed over to us. Foreign Minister Lin Dong said.

"Humph! These damn old hairy people, what did they do earlier? Didn't they reject our offer in the first place? Now the fart and urine that have been beaten by the Northern Army are sounding again, and we are coming. It's just shameless. Education Director General Katsura Taro said first.

Previously, he was a strong advocate of joining the war. But, on the one hand, the stern refusal of the Russians. On the other hand, there was a warning from the British masters. As a result, the Japanese cabinet finally made the decision to sit on the sidelines. Now, the Russians have lost hundreds of thousands of troops and are very likely to lose this war, which undoubtedly makes him feel very relieved.

"If you can hand over the whole of Northeast China to us, we can agree to their request to send troops. In the past two years, the northern government has vigorously developed heavy industry in the northeast. Iron and steel bases have been established in Anshan and Benxi, and a large heavy industry base has been built in Shengjing. If we can get the whole of Tohoku, the heavy industry of the Great Japanese Empire will be qualitatively changed! Minoru Saito, the prime minister of the sea, said. Constrained by Japan's loss of interests in the Northeast, the construction progress of the Japanese Navy's battleships was greatly affected. Originally, two 'Satsuma-class' battleships were expected to enter service next year. However, now it seems that if it can serve in the following years, it will be considered good.

"Tohoku was very important to the Japanese Empire. If the Russians were really willing to hand over the Northeast to us, this battle could have been fought. What's more, now the main forces of the Northern Army have been held back by the Russians. We send troops, and there is a great chance that we will win. Lu Xiangji said.

Both the Japanese Army and the Navy hope to win this war. In this case, Japan will reap huge benefits. However, things are often not so simple. (To be continued......)

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