"Ito-kun, congratulations on becoming prime minister." Shan County Youpeng said with a smile. Because of the huge armament budget and the move to borrow money from Russia, it caused an uproar in the cabinet. The Matsukata Cabinet used strong measures to suppress it, and although it barely passed the budget, Matsukata Masayoshi had no choice but to go into the field, and after the Matsukata Cabinet fell, Ito Hirobumi ascended to the prime minister's throne smoothly. It's just a little earlier than history.

"What's the joy? Japan is now using tomorrow's hope to accomplish today's things, and if we win, our future is very slim, and if we lose, we will fall directly into the abyss. Ito Hirofumi glanced at Yama Prefecture Aritomo and said with some discouragement.

"Ito-kun is too worried, although the Russians are a poisonous snake, but before the Far Eastern Railway is built, this poisonous snake will not be able to hurt Japan. We are just using the Russians. When we win the battle and get the land and the indemnity, we can kick the Russians into the Pacific Ocean. Shan Youpeng's face changed slightly, and then he said with a smile.

"Do you think we're winning now?" Hirofumi Ito said with a glance at Yama Prefecture.

"The army can now requisition 150,000 troops, and the navy has purchased an 8,000-ton armored ship, a 7,000-ton protective cruiser and a 4,000-ton second-class protective cruiser, compared with the Beiyang Navy, it already has a slight advantage, why would we lose?" Shan Shan asked a little strangely.

"At the beginning, the enemies of the empire were only Li Hongzhang's Beiyang and Manchu garrisons in the northeast, but now, Li Hanzhang's Liangguang, Liu Mingchuan's Taiwan, and those Chinese businessmen with thousands of dollars have all been united, and the energy they have burst out has far exceeded the expectations of the empire." Speaking of this, Ito Hirobumi turned his head to Shiki Kayama next to him and said, "Is the Imperial Navy capable of defeating the Qing Nanyang and Beiyang Naval Divisions together?" ”

"Well, at least, it won't be left behind." Shiki Kayama hesitated and said.

"What I want is victory, without sea dominance, the army will not be able to guarantee sufficient troops and supplies, even if it fights farther, it will only be a passing cloud. The vast strategic depth of the Qing Kingdom can completely eat the 150,000 troops who have friends in your county and have no backup and no supplies!! Ito glanced at the Japanese Navy and Army officers like an angry lion.

"So what do we do?" Kawakami Caoroku asked a little distractedly.

"Could it be that the empire's 20-year hard preparations for the conquest of Korea will be in vain?" Gonbei Yamamoto pointed at Hirobumi Ito and said angrily.

"Of course not, but who can tell me where is the way out for the Empire?" Hirobumi Ito asked rhetorically? Suddenly, everyone was silent, since the empire was already burdened with heavy debts and could not gain an advantage, what was the way out for the empire?

"Mutsu Munemitsu!!" Hirobumi Ito yelled.

"Prime Minister Ito." Mutsu Munemitsu walked out.

"You go to the Russian ambassador now to discuss the second batch of loans!! We need to add at least 2 more ironclads!! And accessories, artillery, ammunition, you have to get your hands on the Empire. No matter what it takes! Hirobumi Ito said with red-hot eyes.

"Yes, Prime Minister Ito, but at the price." Mutsu said worriedly.

"Don't you understand? As long as the land is not ceded. Trade privileges, residency of Russians in Japan we can give. Hirobumi Ito said with an annoyed look at Mutsu Munemitsu.

"Remember, we had to wage war against the Qing before 1895. Our economy simply won't last long, and the only way we can get foreign exchange is through textile exports, except for borrowing. And now, those Chinese merchants and local merchants of the Qing Kingdom have actually begun to invest heavily in the textile industry. And the spearhead of competition is directed at the empire. They have sufficient manpower, abundant raw materials, and a broad market. Under such circumstances, it will be difficult for the empire's foreign trade to earn foreign exchange to expand the armament of the navy and army, everyone, make good use of every penny in your wallet. The Empire only had one chance to challenge the behemoth to the west. After saying that, Ito Hirobumi left the venue with a haggard expression. …,

"This is probably the last grant the Empire can get before the war." Yamamoto Gonbei looked at Hirobumi Ito who was going away and smiled bitterly.

"Do you have enough navy? Our army can ask for less. Yama Prefecture Youpeng glanced at Shiki Kayama, and for the first time, the people of the Choshu Domain and the Satsuma Domain began to think about each other.

"Ugh. It is said that Li Hongzhang in Beiyang, Li Hanzhang in Liangguang, and Liu Mingchuan in Taiwan are also preparing the army, and the Lushun fortress has begun large-scale construction. The army also needs more heavy artillery to crack open this turtle shell. Shiki Kayama said with some embarrassment.

While the Japanese army and navy leaders were finally working together for the closest time since the Meiji Restoration, Mutsu Munemitsu was engaged in this difficult negotiation with the Russians at the Russian Embassy in Tokyo.

"Mr. Ambassador, please look at the terms of Japan again, Japan can use customs duties as collateral for this loan, but it is absolutely impossible to allow the Russians to have the same rights as the Japanese in Hokkaido, and to lease the port of Ichiran." Mutsu Munemitsu said almost pleadingly.

"Do you think you're haggling for a bottle of sake at a market in Tokyo? Mr. Mutsu. We are talking about cooperation, we are really planning for the future of the Far East, we have provided the Japanese Empire with continued ammunition, artillery, warships and loans, and we have even delayed the construction of the Far Eastern Railway, which is about to begin, and we have given so much to Japan. Just having equal national rights in Hokkaido and leasing a port, you are all pushing back, we are very suspicious of your country's sincerity!! The Russian ambassador sneered. The British will no longer lend money to Japan, and the three warships ordered by Japan in Britain are probably the last ships built by the British Navy for the Japanese Navy, and now, only the great Russian Empire can help Japan through the difficulties ahead. ”

"Let me report this to my own government, Mr. Ambassador, please wait a few more days." Mutsu Munemitsu really didn't dare to agree to this condition, and he couldn't afford this responsibility.

After the 10th, Japan and Russia signed the Tokyo Loan Treaty. Russia provided Japan with a total of £2 million in installments, which was secured by customs duties. At the same time, the treaty stipulated that the Russians in Hokkaido had complete equal rights with the Japanese, and enjoyed "special" extraterritoriality. The port of Muroran was leased to Russia, and the Russians finally had the first ice-free port in the Far East. Compared to Japan, which has knocked out its teeth and swallowed it in its stomach, Russia is satisfied. The British government was furious. William Gladstone, leader of the British opposition party, denounced the erroneous foreign policy of the current prime minister, the Marquess of Salisbury, in parliament, saying that Britain's support for Japan for more than a decade has not only not been reaped, but has become an accomplice of Russia, Britain's potential enemy. And because of the deposit of the Tokyo Loan Treaty, the Russians were given ice-free ports in the Far East for the first time, which posed a great challenge to the interests of the British Empire in the Far East. "We can imagine that when the Russians built the railway to Vladivostok, the British would penetrate into East Asia from both land and sea, and the British Empire would have to go far east to stop the Russian attack. The Russians had already found Japan as a partner, and the British Empire, which not so long ago was building warships for the enemies of its quasi-allies. This would be the worst diplomatic mistake of the British Empire in hundreds of years!! The Marquess of Salisbury must be in charge! ”

At the same time, Xu Jie finally took a mouthful, "In the First Sino-Japanese War, the Qing Kingdom will at least not lose so badly." "Regardless of the outcome of the battle on the battlefield, in order to curb the expansion of Russia in the Far East, Britain became the only option. The British technology, capital and personnel training will continue to flow to the Qing State, even without the support of the center, Beiyang can still complete its own preparation plan. And when William Gladstone comes to power, there will be no possibility of restoring relations between Britain and Japan!

Double Shift!! Everyone, support it.,War within 10 chapters after today~Recommended,Collection,Click to have more~~