>

It's one thing for Emperor Meiji to decide to keep fighting, but it's another thing how to keep fighting. As an island nation, it needs to fight across the sea, and as a result, the navy has lost people's homes, and no one can fight this battle. After discussing for a long time, a vote of people in the Japanese base camp came to such a helpless result: If there is no intervention of a strong navy, then Japan has no possibility of fighting at all, and not only will the army already in Korea collapse because of logistics. Even the sea lines of communication that Japan relies on will be cut off by the other side, and the whole of Japan will eventually be in a desperate situation!

Is there a strong navy? Of course, there are navies in the world that are stronger than the Beiyang, and Britain, France, Russia, Italy, and Germany are all stronger than the Beiyang Naval Division, but who can help Japan? Britain provided logistical support for the Beiyang Fleet, and Italy provided a whole new fleet for the Beiyang Fleet. Germany was busy doing business with the Beiyang Army. France said it had no interest in the battle in the Far East.

Although the Russian Black Sea Fleet can't get out of the Black Sea, and the Russian Far East Fleet has nothing, but the Makanov fleet, which concentrates all the elite cruisers of Russia, is almost in East Asia, and if Russia agrees to help, under the command of the best Russian admiral, the fleet composed of 4 armored cruisers still has the strength to maneuver with the Beiyang Naval Division's fast fleet. The rest depends on whether the Japanese Army fights or not!

"Although the fleet led by General Makanov cannot defeat the Beiyang Fleet in a decisive situation, it can give full play to the advantage of speed to entangle with it, as long as the Beiyang Fast Fleet is contained, it will be very difficult for the remaining warships in Beiyang to blockade the vast Sea of Japan due to other problems such as battle damage or ship age." Saigo Congdao took the analysis of Tsuboi Kozo, Inoue Ryoshin and others.

"If Russia agrees to open the road to aid the Imperial Army, its dependence on sea transportation will be further reduced. The Imperial Army had effectively gained control of Korea's border with Russia. It is more convenient to replenish from land. Dashan Yan also handed over a report that had been corrected many times. Although there are some words that even he himself does not believe. But that's what politics needs!

"Now that Russia and the United States have not started a war with the Qing State, the Beiyang Naval Division does not dare to kill all the Russian merchant ships. So it would be feasible for the Russians to transport some of the supplies, at least there should be no problem in transporting grain to North Korea. Looking at the report of the Minister of the Navy and Army, Aoki Shuzo added a few more words.

"From this point of view, if Russia can be on the side of the Empire, then the Empire still has a chance to win this war?" Emperor Meiji said as he looked at the report, which had too many subjective elements.

"So did the Russians have any intention of joining forces with the empire against the Qing state?" Hirobumi Ito is not so optimistic.

"If the empire fails, then the powerful Beiyang Fleet will completely block the Russians' attempts to enter East Asia, and entering East Asia is something that several generations of Russian emperors have dreamed of, so it is highly likely to take the opportunity to unite the empire against the Qing state." Oyama Rock hurriedly explained.

"But given the attitude of the British. Russia did not dare to really blatantly send an army to war with the Qing state, and Russia was not ready for war in the Far East, and the army provided equipment to the empire at most. But in terms of the navy, I am afraid that the Russians are ready to take over the sea power in the Far East after the defeat of the empire and the Beiyang naval division, but there is an accident, and the strength of the Beiyang fleet is beyond the imagination of the empire and Russia. "Youpeng in Shan County has no good impression of the Russians." If the Imperial Fleet wins, I'm afraid the Russians will target the Imperial Fleet, right? Shan County Youpeng thought in his heart.

"There's no point in discussing so much now. Whatever the purpose of the Russian fleet sailing to the Far East, unite them, gain sea power for the empire, and help the empire fight to the city of Beijing! "Emperor Meiji was tired of such endless arguments. What he needs now is to reach this cooperation agreement as soon as possible, even if it comes at a huge cost! …,

The emperor's will is the "great destiny". Whoever wants to get along with this "big fate" will wait to be "punished by heaven". Even if Ito Hirobumi was unwilling, he would not dare to hinder the progress of this plan. Even if he realizes that this plan may push Japan into an even darker abyss!

The emperor's will was quickly carried out, and the Japanese side, represented by Shuzo Aoki, and the Russian ambassador to Japan immediately began consultations on the issue of in-depth cooperation. Unexpectedly, the Russian minister took the unusually initiative in this cooperation plan. It was a surprise to the Japanese side, which had formulated an N set of plans before this, but this does not mean that the negotiation process between the two sides will be very smooth, and the demands of the Russians are amazingly high!

"Mr. Distinguished Ambassador, your country's conditions are too unacceptable to demand the same rights as the imperial nationals of your country in Hokkaido. Lease Muroran Port for 50 years. And fortifications such as fortifications can be built, and troops can be garrisoned, which is basically a land cut. Aoki Shuzo said with a bitter face.

"In addition, the premise of Russia's assistance to the empire is to guarantee our tariffs, which is basically equivalent to controlling the economic lifeline of our country. The empire's foreign exchange mainly comes from exports, and controlling tariffs is equivalent to controlling the empire's economy! This is absolutely unacceptable. Kei Oshima said with a copy of the agreement.

"Gentlemen, these conditions are very fair, and you should not just see what His Highness the Tsar has received. Rather, it was to see what the Japanese Empire could gain from this agreement. As you can imagine, the Yashima and the Asahi in your navy were provided by His Royal Highness the Tsar. The army is equipped with 107mm heavy guns that are now being used to besiege Pyongyang, all of which are made in Russia. Without the Empire, why would you go to war with the Qing Kingdom? Now, what capital do you have to bargain with His Royal Highness the Tsar? Later, the Russian ambassador knocked on the table excitedly, and the spat flew to the face of Shuzo Aoki on the other side.

"The empire and your country are equal allies, and they have come together for a common goal, and without the help of the empire, your country will not be able to expand its power in the Far East. Under such a premise, we should respect the demands of both sides. Aoki Shuzo said with anger in his endurance.

"Allies? What qualifies an island nation that has lost its navy to be on an equal footing with great Russia? With the empire having the third-largest navy in the world, an army that was formidable to both Germany and France, and a vast land that surpassed the Qing Kingdom, what did Japan have? Now the Beiyang Fleet is almost reaching the Gulf of Tonkin, without the support of the Empire. Japan can only be defeated!! When the time comes, you can only kneel in front of that Qingguo Li and ask for the other party's forgiveness!! The Russian ambassador sneered.

"And what about Russia? Without the help of the Empire, how would Russia face the mighty Beiyang Naval Division? How to face the Anglo-Qing alliance in the Far East? Aoki Shuzo couldn't bear it anymore and pointed at the other party and said loudly.

"What is the Northern Fleet? His Royal Highness the Tsar's navy could completely take out a fleet of battleships of the first rank in the future to crush the Beiyang Naval Division. What is the Qing Army? How can an army that even the Japanese Army can't defeat be qualified to compete with the Russian Army, which is known as the European steamroller? The Russian ambassador paused, then continued, in a superior manner: "Without Japan, we only have to wait a few years, and when the Far Eastern Railway is built, the conquest of the Qing State is just around the corner." As for the British? The British had no say on land. ”

"Dear Mr. Shuzo Aoki, you need to see what your country can get. A complete fleet, a fleet that is enough to rival the six cutting-edge warships of the Beiyang, with them, your country has the possibility of victory. And after the victory, all the losses of your country can be compensated from the Qing country, loans? No problem, the Qing Congress will send the compensation to your country's treasury. Territory? No problem. The Qing State has become accustomed to using the method of land cession to live in peace. In comparison, what your country has paid is only a port and some gestures of goodwill, is it that Russia has helped your country so much. Can't your country show some goodwill to the citizens of Russia? The Russian deputy envoy on the side said with a pertinent face. …,

"I can't make the decision on this condition, and I still need the approval of the cabinet and His Majesty the Emperor." Speaking of which, Aoki Shuzo really has nothing to say.

"I hope your government is more efficient. Don't wait until the Beiyang Fleet reaches Tokyo Bay before deciding to cooperate with His Majesty the Tsar. In addition, it should be noted that the Russian government provided the fleet only to participate in the war as a mercenary, and did not directly declare war with the Qing state. The army will not cross the border to fight the Qing army. Because all the arms reserves in the Far East have been provided to your government. Finally, the Russian ambassador added.

"What a high-sounding reason, the army does not use the lack of armament as an excuse, and the navy does not even hang the Russian battle flag. Lost a maximum of a few ships. The Russians even thought of their own way out. Aoki Shuzo said in his heart. Anger, helplessness, and sorrow welled up in his heart at the same time.

There is no doubt that this is a plan to quench your thirst. If promised, then it will pave the way for the Russians to enter Hokkaido in a big way. And the lease of the port of Muroran gave the Russians a real ice-free port. The mighty Russian Far East Fleet will be a sharp knife to the throat of Japan. Japan, having lost its navy, will not be able to withstand the threat of the Russian Far Eastern Fleet!

The use of tariffs as a guarantee gave the Russians control of Japan's economic lifeline, and it is important to know that almost all of Japan's foreign exchange comes from textile exports, and heavy industrial equipment such as machinery and steel also needs this foreign exchange to buy. The circulation of foreign exchange in Japan was controlled. It is tantamount to direct control of Japan's foreign economic exchanges. Two knives, one soft and one hard, directly turned Japan into a vassal of Russia!

But does Japan have a choice? For strong Russia. For the Beiyang Naval Division, which has already gained the right to control the sea, and for Japan, which has squeezed out the last trace of national strength to prepare for war! If the Japanese government wants to see the sun tomorrow. Then even if the Russians gave poison, they had to swallow it that night!

Of course, they can also choose a truce, but in Ito Hirobumi, Saionji Kobo, Daiyama Iwa and Saigo from the dog. Japan, which has been pursuing Western civilization for more than 20 years, must not accept this ending! Since the beginning of the Shogun War, Japan has spent a whole generation of energy and several generations of accumulation in order to start this war. If it could not be defeated at the weakest time of the Qing state, then Japan would never have the light of day.

In the face of the twenty-one articles transferred by Aoki Shuzo, it is almost the "Japanese version" of another time and space. After a few minutes of silence, in the face of Tsarist Russia, a behemoth to the north, Japan could only choose to give in! With Emperor Meiji's approval, the agreement was enough to plunge Japan into the abyss, and the war between the Qing and Japan would continue.

The two sides are like two gamblers standing in front of the table, the table is full of chips, these chips are almost all the belongings of both sides, and in the process of fierce gambling and follow-up, the chips of both sides are constantly consumed. As the chips dwindled, the two sides not only did not stop, but kept increasing their stacks! Now the chips in the hands of both sides seem to be abundant, but they are just borrowed from those bigwigs behind them! Both gamblers want to win the winnings from this gambling win to offset their losses. Therefore, both sides will continue to gamble in the future until one of them is finished, and never die!!

The efficiency of the Russians was still very high, and on the day after the signing of the treaty between Russia and Japan, a telegram was sent to the Tsar's table, and Nicholas I, who had obtained an ice-free port, was naturally very happy, he had done something that several generations of tsars had not done, and this alone was enough to make him famous in history! This, of course, is the history of Russia.

Realizing that the conditions agreed to by the Japanese could only be fulfilled if Japan won, the Russians showed unusual generosity in aiding Japan. Almost all the weapons, ammunition and food that could be drawn from the Far East were written by the Russians on the list of aid to Japan. And the Russian fleet, which had been on standby at the port of Muroran, also delivered the first batch of supplies directly to North Korea. A large amount of army equipment was also shipped to Korea by sea through Japan, and during this period when the minefields in the Korean Strait had not been broken, the Russians raced against time to transport everything that could be used in the war!

The biggest part of the deal was that Makanov's cruiser fleet soon received an order written in code, and in order to keep the order safe, fast, and confidential from General Matsushima Makanov, who had given the order to His Majesty the Tsar, the Russians had used a number of long-hidden spy networks.

Finally, five days later, the telegram, containing Russia's ambition for hegemony in the Far East, was finally placed on General Makanov's desk, while he was maintaining his fleet in the Dutch colony of Batavia. Just now, he was complaining about the shells and algae hanging from the hull, the boilers that had been working for long hours and could not be fully maintained, and the fact that his sailors had not been trained in live fire for a week. And at this moment, he got the order to participate in the war, commanding a fleet that spanned most of the world to fight to the death with 6 cutting-edge warships in the Beiyang!

"This war can only be won by St. George, I am a mortal, not a god!" When Makanov finished reading the telegram, he did not hide his anger and anxiety and threw the telegram to the ground in front of the senior officers!