"Urgent telegram: I learned that the Beiyang Naval Division has officially signed a contract with the Italian delegation yesterday. It is expected to order 2 to 3 **-class dome cruisers. ”

"Emergency: the basic tonnage of the new protective cruiser is 4300 tons. It is 112 meters long, 14 meters long, and has a draft of 5.6 meters. The base firepower was 10 6-inch guns, 1 at the bow and 1 at the stern, and 8 on the side ear platforms. 3 pounder guns 10 pcs. THE PROTECTION REMAINED THE SAME, THE UPPER PART OF THE DOME ARMOR WAS 50MM. SIDE 120MM. It adopts a subdivided compartment design. The power is a vertical three-expansion steam engine. The total power is 13,000 horsepower, and 17,000 horsepower under strong pressure ventilation. Speed 22 knots. ”

When Ito Hirobumi showed the two copies of the telegram to the Japanese Navy and War Minister, everyone present was shocked. Everyone here knows that. Judging from the performance of this battleship, the three scenic ships under construction in Japan cannot defeat these three cutting-edge dome cruisers. The order for the new dome cruiser is still far away, and according to the current background of the Japanese Combined Fleet, once the new warships of the Beiyang are in place, the Beiyang Navy Division can wipe out the current Japanese Combined Fleet with one hand.

"This is really not good news for the Combined Fleet. As a result, it will be difficult for our combined fleet to match it in future naval battles. Shiki Kayama said with a frown.

"I'm afraid the navy is going to ask for money again, right? The Imperial Combined Fleet spends no less than 8.9 million yen per year. The Qing court's annual naval military expenditure was only 3 million taels (the northern and southern oceans together). In the end, he still couldn't beat the Beiyang Naval Division. Shouldn't you Navy guys apologize? Inoue said in a manner.

"The native of the Cheung Chau Domain. What do you know? The Navy spends no less than 8.9 million yen a year, but the Army's military spending is more than that. There is at least 11 million yen per year. And what does the Army need? It's nothing more than artillery, rifles and logistical equipment. However, the navy just wanted to buy a three-view ship, and such a ship would cost no more than 2.5 million yen. The new order for the Dome cruiser from the Armstrong shipyard was as high as 300,000 pounds. How is such a high price of only 8.9 million yen enough? Shiki Kayama said angrily.

"And now, the Beiyang Naval Division has purchased two or three new warships of 4,500 tons, if the Navy's military spending does not increase, will you let the officers and men of the Combined Fleet learn from the Army to fight the Beiyang Fleet with rifles and bayonets?" Birshan's senior discipline officer accused.

"How many people are there in the navy? There are more than 100,000 officers and men in the 7 standing divisions of the army. Look at your navy, even if you have a meal, you can learn from the British. The soldiers of the army could only eat rice and miso. And your navy is a big fish and a lot of meat, how can this waste be worthy of the people's supply? "If you can't get entangled in equipment, then find somewhere else. Inoue's hand of six plays is so circuitous. "Just let our army land on the Korean Peninsula. Without the help of the Navy at all, the battle flag of the Great Japanese Empire could be planted in the Forbidden City. At the end, Inoue Caoliu also added in high spirits.

"Can I ask a question?" Half a ring, Ito Hirobumi said.

"Please." In front of Hirobumi Ito, Inoue Caoroku can't put up a fight.

"Are the Army's sappers available?" Hirobumi Ito asked.

"The sappers of the Imperial Japanese Army were the best in the world." Although Inoue didn't understand what Ito Hirobumi meant, it was never a bad thing to brag about it.

"Then ask the Army to quickly assume a pontoon bridge connecting Japan and North Korea." Hirofumi Ito said coldly.

"This ......." Inoue can't say a word for six and a half days.

"Japan is an island country, and Qing is a mainland country. The army is indeed the key to defeating the Qing State, but the navy is the place to ensure the security of the homeland!! If the army is defeated, at best it will not be able to win. As long as the navy remains, the foundations of the empire are there. However, once the navy fails, not only will the mainland not be able to guarantee security, but the army will fail for logistical reasons no matter how far it goes. Hirofumi Ito said angrily. The Choshu and Satsuma domains were in charge of the army, one in charge of the army, and the other in charge of the navy. In peacetime, there has been trouble because of the competition for military spending, and the army has criticized the navy for its high salary, while the navy says that the army spends a lot of money and is the son of the Japanese government, and the navy is only an adopted son. Usually Hirofumi Ito is too lazy to pay attention to these things. But at the critical moment when the fortunes of the country were decided, Ito Hirobumi did not want to cause some unnecessary trouble because of the disagreement between land and sea.

"The navy's defeat of the Beiyang Fleet is equivalent to ensuring the safety of the army's logistical supply and troop transportation. Don't you even know that? Shiki Kayama, who was supported by Hirofumi Ito, said with a smile on his face. …,

"Huashan-kun, you also have to remember that without an army to defeat the Qing State, the empire will not get land and indemnity, not to mention future development, it will be difficult to repay the debt. You also know how the Emperor's government and the citizens of the empire supported the navy and army in preparing for war. Hirofumi Ito glanced at Shiki Kayama and said. When it comes to things that can't be explained, the big 50 boards are the best way, and even in ancient Japanese law, there are entangled cases, where the plaintiff and the defendant each play the clause of 50 boards. Therefore, although Ito Hirobumi was inclined to expand the navy, he still decided to take care of both sides.

"The question now is how to deal with this expansion of the Qing army. Let me have some thoughts on this issue. Hirobumi Ito set the tone.

"The Navy must order more than 4 fast cruisers to offset the impact of the 3 **-class dome cruisers purchased by the Qing State." Shiki Kayama said.

"Have you chosen the type of ship?" Hirobumi Ito asked.

"Sir Watts of the Armstrong shipyard has designed a new Dome cruiser, with a speed of 23 knots, which is a little faster than the ** class, equipped with eight 4.7-inch guns and four 6-inch guns, as well as a large number of machine guns and torpedoes. (You know about this ship, right?) The armor protection aspect is also very good. Shiki Kayama said.

"How much?" Hirobumi Ito asked.

"£300,000." Shiki Kayama said in a low voice.

"If it's four, it's 1.2 million pounds. What do you want the Empire to do to raise this money? Many people have sold their daughters. And your navy still needs so much money? "Inoue can't help it after six times.

"That's the bottom line, please." In the face of Inoue Caoroku's accusations, Shiki Kayama had nothing to say. Everyone knows that this 1.2 million pounds is really an astronomical amount for Japan. But Shiki Kayama had no choice. One way or another, he had to say it.

"Huashan-kun, take your navy with you, and you don't have to worry about other things. Go back. Ito Hirobumi seemed to have suddenly aged dozens of years, and waved his hand and said.

And just after Shiki Kayama and Soroku Inoue left Hirobumi Ito's residence, Hirobumi Ito walked into a secret room and started another meeting.

(The new book is recommended.,I'm in a good mood.,Work hard to update a chapter~~ Everyone is a little stronger.,There are recommendations and collections to be motivated!!) Spoilers by the way, army equipment will be introduced in a few days!! ）