Chapter 208: Withstanding the pressure of the great powers

After defeating the Beiyang Naval Division, the Japanese Navy was also demoralized. 9 Read They are now convinced that the battleship is definitely not the decisive factor in naval warfare. The real decisive factor is still people! The Japanese Navy, supported by the spirit of bushido, is certainly not something that those people in China can withstand. Even though the western Sichuan Navy had more warships than the Beiyang Naval Division, and the warships were larger and more powerful, they believed that they were still the ones who won the victory in the end. Japan's tomorrow will be created by these enthusiastic soldiers.

"Excellent! As long as the army and navy can defeat the enemy, then we have nothing to fear! Ito Hirobumi's originally gloomy face was relieved. Although the road ahead is full of difficulties, Ito Hirobumi believes that the final victory must belong to Japan, and the Great Japanese Empire is relatively rising in the east of the world.

"On the issue of military spending, the Ministry of Finance needs to find a solution. Lord Watanabe, I hope that you will do your best to raise enough money for the Imperial Army. We have to fight a powerful enemy, not only the soldiers need to have a strong will, but also the protection of weapons! Hirofumi Ito said to Minister of Finance Watanabe Kunitake. War Minister Oyama Iwa and Navy Minister Saigo Seigo also served Watanabe Kunitake. In the Sino-Japanese War, they spent more than 200 million yen. and the more powerful Kawanishi Dai, the military spending required must also be far more than 200 million yen.

"This ......" The Minister of Finance, Watanabe Kunitake, began to break out in a cold sweat on his forehead, the treasury was already empty, and now he was waiting for the Manchu war reparations to arrive, where would he go to get so much money!

"Your Excellency Mutsu Munemitsu, can we get the Qing Kingdom to pay the war reparations in advance. The Ministry of Finance really can't come up with the money! Kunitake Watanabe said.

"Taro Kawaguchi has already gone to the Seikoku side. However, it was rejected by Prince Gong of the Qing Kingdom. Now the Qing State also has to resist the attack of western Sichuan, and it is simply unable to pay our indemnity. Moreover, the Qing government seems to have realized that they will be expected by the western part of Sichuan, so there is no intention of paying us war reparations! Mutsu said coldly.

"Yaga! How can this be! The Treaty of Shimonoseki had just been signed, so did those people want to break it? War Minister Oyama Yan scolded hatefully. The rest of the cabinet members were also very angry.

"At least, after the Qing State was overthrown by Sichuanxi, Sichuanxi would never recognize this indemnity. As for the Treaty of Shimonoseki, they will not recognize it at all, let alone fulfill it! Mutsu said.

"Despicable and shameless Shina people!" Dashan Yan and the others all scolded.

"This has been expected for a long time. Now, only by defeating Kawanishi will we be able to reap the fruits of victory. In addition, let's not forget that Sichuanxi is richer than the Qing Kingdom, and if we can defeat the Sichuan Dynasty, we will be able to gain more than the Qing Kingdom. At that time, it will not be a problem that can be solved by 200 million taels of silver, we can ask for 400 million, 500 million, or even more! Ito's eyes were full of greed. At the moment in Japan, the poor are about to be pants, and when they think of the wealth of western Sichuan, they can't help but exude greedy eyes.

The other cabinet members, hearing the words 400 million, 500 million, or even more, also breathed a lot heavier one by one. If Japan wants to rise and become a one-to-one power in the world, it needs a lot of money, resources and markets. And China has all of these. Therefore, as long as Kawanishi is defeated, then the rise of Japan is just around the corner.

"Your Excellency the Prime Minister, rest assured, we will definitely fight with all our strength to defeat Western Sichuan!" War Minister Oyama Iwa and Navy Minister Saigo shouted excitedly as if they had been beaten with chicken blood.

"As for the issue of military spending, His Excellency Mutsu Somitsu, immediately contact Britain, France, the United States and other countries. Request their support. A strong China is not in their interest. And the empire will help them curb the rise of the garrison. I think they will definitely help the Empire! Hirobumi Ito said. As long as you can borrow money from the foreign powers, it will be easy to do. After defeating Kawanishi, naturally there is money to pay off these debts.

"Yes, Your Excellency Prime Minister, I will contact Britain, France and the United States!" Foreign Minister Mutsu Munemitsu nodded.

"Then, gentlemen, in order to defeat a stronger enemy, I hope you will work hard. Whether the empire can rise or not, it's up to you! Hirobumi Ito said in a deep voice.

"Fight for the rise of the empire!" A group of little Japan, shouting excitedly, seemed to think that the victory was in hand.

On April 9, the newspapers of western Sichuan reported on the victories of the western Sichuan army on all fronts, all the defensive lines of the Qing army were broken through, and the western Sichuan army was about to win a huge victory. These good news immediately detonated the enthusiasm of the people in western Sichuan, and the entire western Sichuan almost became a sea of joy. Everyone believes that the reunification of the whole country in western Sichuan is already a matter of imminent importance.

The war planes in western Sichuan have already started with all their might. A large number of logistical transport teams were organized to transport the necessary supplies and ammunition to the front line. The road facilities in the area under the rule of the Manchus were relatively poor, which caused certain problems for the western Sichuan army. However, fortunately, in the past two years, the great powers also built a lot of railways in the Manchu ruling area, which greatly facilitated the march of the western Sichuan army. For the sake of war, these railways and trains were naturally requisitioned by the Western Sichuan Army. As for the protests of the foreign powers, the Western Sichuan military only said that it would give reasonable compensation after the war. And, during the war, if these railways were used by the Qing army, they would also be regarded as enemies by Western Sichuan.

At 10 o'clock in the morning, the British Consul in Chengdu, Zhu Erdian, the French Consul in Chengdu, Pierre, the German Consul in Chengdu, Lucas, the Russian Consul in Chengdu, Sergei, the Russian Consul in Chengdu, Sherlock, the US Consul in Chengdu, and the Japanese Consul Yuichi Kawaguchi in Chengdu, jointly came to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Western Sichuan Cabinet and asked to meet with Wang Yuze to express their views on the current war launched by Western Sichuan against the Manchus.

Wu Tingfang, foreign minister of the western Sichuan cabinet, hurriedly informed Wang Yuze. Wang Yuze knew that the attack on the Manchus in western Sichuan would definitely be blocked by the foreign powers, so he had already made preparations. Therefore, he asked Wu Tingfang and the consuls of these countries to come to the Parade Embassy and receive them in the reception room of the Parade Embassy.

"Greetings to your Excellencies! Everyone is anxious to see me, is there anything wrong? After everyone sat down, Wang Yuze asked directly to the point.

"Your Excellency, the brazen attack on the Qing State in Western Sichuan has affected the peace in the Far East. Western Sichuan should immediately stop its attack on the Qing and let peace return to the Far East! As soon as Wang Yuze's words were finished, Yuichi Kawaguchi, the Japanese consul in Chengdu, jumped out. He also had no choice, if the Manchu Qing was overthrown, then Japan would not be able to get the dividends of the war. For Japan, it would undoubtedly be best if Kawanishi could stop the offensive and maintain the status quo in the Far East.

To the arrogant Yuichi Kawaguchi, Wang Yuze frowned. When does Kawanishi need to listen to the orders of small Japan.

When Wu Tingfang saw Wang Yuze's expression, he naturally knew that Wang Yuze was unhappy, and immediately said: "Your Excellency Kawaguchi, it should be you Japan who provoked the war in the Far East!" The war between Western Sichuan and the Manchus is an internal affair of China, which has nothing to do with other countries and does not need other countries to interfere! As western Sichuan becomes stronger and stronger, Wu Tingfang is becoming more and more confident.

"Your Excellency, how can it not matter? The Japanese Empire has just defeated the Qing and has signed an armistice treaty. However, the Qing State has not yet paid the reparations, if the Qing State is overthrown by Western Sichuan? Will Kawanishi pay this indemnity? Yuichi Kawaguchi said angrily.

"Humph! Western Sichuan is western Sichuan, and Manchu is Manchu. After the overthrow of the Manchu Qing Dynasty in western Sichuan, it is natural that the so-called armistice treaty will not be recognized! Wang Yuze replied directly.

Suddenly, Yuichi Kawaguchi's face changed greatly. The consuls of several other countries also looked a little bad. In particular, the wars between Britain, France, and Russia, Tongguò and the Manchus, seized a lot of benefits, and if Western Sichuan did not recognize these treaties after overthrowing the Manchus, what would they do?

"Your Excellency, the war between the western Sichuan and the Qing has severely affected British interests in China. I have to remind you that if the interests of the British Empire are harmed, the British Empire will use every means to defend the interests that belong to the British Empire! The British consul in Chengdu, Zhu Erdian, said. The means he used in his mouth naturally included war.

"The French government is of the same opinion!" Pierre, the French consul in Chengdu, echoed the words.

"The same is true of the Russian government!" Sergei, the Russian consul in Chengdu, also said. Russia passed a series of unequal treaties and occupied more Chinese territory. If Western Sichuan did not recognize these treaties after the overthrow of the Manchus, how would Russia keep these territories? Therefore, the best way is to curb the ambitions of the people stationed in western Sichuan and keep the Manchus.

The American minister Sherlock did not say anything, the United States has very few interests in China, they are just some commercial interests, and now the overthrow of the Manchu Qing Dynasty in western Sichuan is in sight, and a unified China means a huge market. The United States does not want to offend Kawanishi, so that this market is closed to the United States.

Lucas, the German consul in Chengdu, will not have an opinion. The German government can't wait for Kawanishi to have a grudge with Britain, France and Russia, and even fight a big fight!

A smile appeared on the face of Yuichi Kawaguchi, the Japanese consul in Chengdu, Britain, France and Russia are all powerful countries in the world. With them joining forces, which country in the world can compete? Yuichi Kawaguchi believes that the young handsome man in front of him will definitely make a careful choice.

"Consuls, I repeat it again. The war between Western Sichuan and the Manchus was China's internal affair! The Manchus have lost the hearts of the people, and western Sichuan will definitely replace the Manchus, and no one can stop this! Wang Yuze said firmly.

PS: The first update has arrived! Yesterday I went to Sister Neijiang's house, and my little nephew was full moon. Back to Chengdu this afternoon, it will not affect the update! It's still four more today! (To be continued.)