The impact of the events in Sarajevo was enormous, and if there was a 1 in 10 chance that war would not have broken out in the past, now that chance has been reduced to 1 percent, in other words, war is a sure thing.

And considering the enormous influence of the two camps of the Entente and the Central Powers, almost all the countries in the world have turned their attention to Europe.

The streets of Tokyo, Japan, are still very peaceful, and people in kimonos or other clothes walk along the neat roads, with faint smiles on their faces, as if the war that is about to break out has nothing to do with them.

In a way, it seems to be true.

Although this war that the Entente and the Allies have been preparing for a long time, if it breaks out, its impact will definitely shock the entire world, but the distance between Japan and Europe is still too far after all, no matter how lively the fighting in Europe is, it will be difficult to affect Japan in the Far East, so except for some people who are enthusiastic about the current situation, few people will care about the situation in Europe—————— and the Chinese side is actually the same on this issue.

And...

From a certain point of view, both the Chinese and the Japanese are somewhat pleased with this war.

This is an era of high levels of racial discrimination, but it is also an era of extreme xenophobia.

Although Japan is now one of the great powers, that doesn't mean they like the other powers, especially since almost all of them are white. Japanese people do not necessarily lack a sense of crisis.

So...

For them, the civil war between the white nations was really a good hilarious...

And for most Japanese people. Now they just have to stand by and watch the white guys bleed on their heads, and it would be nice if they all died together...

But in comparison, the Japanese government clearly doesn't think so...

————————————————————

At the internal meeting, most of the current Japanese cabinet is sitting in its own place with a serious face. Unlike last time, the prime minister of the Japanese cabinet at this time is no longer Gonbei Yamamoto.

It is not surprising that Gonbei Yamamoto came to power. It was meant to be a stopgap measure.

At the beginning, because Saionji Gongwang was ousted by Yamaguchi Aritomo and the army by despicable means, the Japanese people launched a movement to protect the constitution (Taisho coup), and as a result, Katsura Taro, who came to power later, was also ousted. And Yamamoto Gonbei was an expedient measure to stabilize the political situation.

Now that the situation has stabilized, it is natural for someone else to come up.

(The Constitutional Party and the Constitutional Political Friends Association put forward the slogan 'Down with the Lords and Maintain the Constitution.') The backers of this movement were the industrial capitalists who sought to seize power from the warlords and bureaucrats. In 1913, Yukio Ozaki, who supported the constitution, proposed a bill to impeach the cabinet in the Diet. He denounced the Katsura Cabinet for "using the emperor as a shield." Use the edict as a cannonball to attack political opponents. "Force Congress to adjourn. On 10 February, the Diet reconvened, and angry people surrounded the Diet, attacked police stations, police stations, and convened a national convention in Hibiya Park to support constitutionalism and oppose warlord dictatorship. The situation has worsened as the turmoil spreads to major cities such as Osaka and Kobe. Emperor Taisho intervened and expressed his desire to maintain political stability. As a result, Katsura Taro's cabinet stepped down on February 11, just two months after taking office. The bourgeois-democratic movement triumphed over the conservative forces. It is known in history as the 'Taisho Coup'. ）

Shigenobu Okuma, who has now succeeded Yamamoto Gonbei, has been appointed prime minister for the second time, and is therefore known in history as the 'second Okuma cabinet'.

"This is a wonderful opportunity, the British and French do not have much power in the Far East, and we can take this opportunity to take over their colonies from the Germans." War Minister Nosuke Okaichi said loudly.

"It's a great opportunity." The Minister of the Navy, Rokuro Hachishiro, nodded, and rarely agreed with the Army's opinion. "The Germans don't have much strength in the Far East, and with our strength, we can snatch Qingdao and those islands in the Pacific Ocean from them at a lower price..."

The army and navy have always been very at odds, even to the point of being enemies of life and death, and it is rare for other countries to make such a fuss with them. But this time...

As mentioned above, the Germans did not have much power in the Far East, and even more so on the islands in the Pacific......... Hehe...

It only took a small price to take these places from the Germans, and there really couldn't be more suitable.

In fact, relations between Japan and Germany are relatively good, at least in terms of the army. However, everyone here is well aware that they can only join the Entente in this war, so...

Whether it was in the interests of the country or the interests of the political parties and factions, they could not choose the Central Powers, but only the Entente led by Britain and France. It can be said that within the entire Japanese government, few people will be optimistic about the Allies...

On the other hand, Okuma Shigenobu's heart is the same as that of Okaichi Nosuke, although Okuma Shigenobu is a member of the constitutional party, this does not mean that he is a pacifist, this can only be said that he is more rational than the army people, but if it is good, he will never let go, like other people from the constitutional party, and even bite more painfully than those brainless guys in the army.

However, he also had a concern in his heart, that is, the national government...

"The Pacific Ocean, and Jiaozhou Bay...", looking at the people below who almost all agreed, Okuma Shigenobu silently said in his heart.

Not to mention the islands in the Pacific, most countries do not look down on them, but for Japan, which has a small territory, every inch of land is precious.

This is true of the inconspicuous islands in the Pacific Ocean, not to mention Jiaozhou Bay and the vast territory of Shandong. If war does break out in Europe, it will be a great opportunity for Japan to take Jiaozhou Bay. There is also the opportunity for the entire territory of Shandong to be included in the scope of Japan's power.

"The question is, if we do it, how will those Chinese react? You know, they have a very good relationship with the French. I am afraid that this time it will also be on the side of the Entente, and it is even very likely that it will join the Entente in the near future and declare war on the Central Powers to recover the territory in Shandong, if so—————— then we will have to consider these Chinese ideas..."

Thinking of this, Shigenobu Okuma glanced at the Minister of Osazu Province, Wakatsuki Rijiro, and said that war needs not only people, but also many aspects.

"Wakatsuki-kun. With the current government finances, is there a way to conduct a large-scale campaign in Shandong? ”

"Is this this?" said Ohzo Minister Wakatsuki Rijiro looked down and thought about it. At present, the finances are still very difficult, and the foreign debts owed by the Russo-Japanese War have not been repaid until now..."I heard Wakatsuki Rijiro say. Okaichi's eyes widened suddenly, and some of the other ministers who were in favor of sending troops also frowned, thinking that Wakatsuki Ryojiro was against this matter, because everyone knew that Wakatsuki Ryojiro's attitude had always been of the weaker kind. He is a well-known 'dove' in the government.

However, just when Okaichi Nosuke was about to stand up and speak out against it. Wakatsuki Rijiro turned to the point of the railway. "But as long as the army and navy are confident that they can win, no matter how difficult it is, we will find a way to raise a military budget!"

Even the doves are not really peace-loving, but feel that the benefits of war are not necessarily greater than the costs to be paid. But for Japan, there is no better opportunity than now, and Wakatsuki Rijiro will naturally not let go of such an opportunity.

Hearing Wakatsuki Rijiro say this, Okaichi Nosuke's face was happy. Everyone else smiled.

However, just when everyone in the room was in a good mood, Takaaki Kato asked softly. "That......... If the Chinese also get involved in this war. Will the military expenditure raised by Dazang Province be enough by then? ”

Obviously, he thought the same thing as Shigenobu Okuma.

"If war breaks out, it is likely that the relations between China and the Entente will be on the side of the Entente and take the opportunity to regain all rights and interests in Shantung, if that is the case......... Do we need to do something to prepare? Some hands-on preparations with the Chinese? ”

"This..."Hearing Kato's words, everyone present hesitated.

It's one thing to do it with the Germans, but it's another thing to do it with the Chinese. Although there are many brainless people in Japan at this time, after all, they are much stronger than in 2 or 30 years. After all, at this time, Japan was still a country ruled by politicians and elders, unlike 2 or 30 years later, when it had become a country ruled purely by military men...

"What if the Chinese get involved?! With the strength of the empire, even if the Chinese are involved, they can still be easily defeated, or even repeat the victory of the first noon, and achieve greater benefits for the empire! ”

After a brief silence, Okaichi Nosuke shouted loudly.

As the Minister of War, he is undoubtedly the most staunch main battle faction of all.

At the same time, the eyes of the others were also bright, and it was clear that they had not forgotten the benefits that Japan had gained in the First Sino-Japanese War, and it can be said that it was precisely because of the victory in the First Sino-Japanese War that Japan had the strength to fight with Russia, and thus became one of the great powers—————— although Russia had not yet exerted its full strength, but Japan had gone all out.

If China were to get involved in the war, and Japan had won the war again, as had happened in the First Sino-Japanese War, it might be possible to solve even the financial problems that had plagued the Japanese government for a long time.

And...

In other words, if this war is won, maybe they can still make a good deal, and even get greater benefits than the indemnities during the First Sino-Japanese War—————— Yan Shao's 100 million pounds 'Seventy-Five Plan' was enough to stimulate these guys.

It's a pity that although these people here, along with the former Yamamoto Gonbei cabinet, have not thought of making a similar plan, but 100 million pounds...

If they really can't come up with this, it is almost equivalent to a huge amount of their financial income for two years.

And this time, not to mention 100 million pounds, even if it is only 50 million, it is already a big profit.

————————————————————

Hearing Okaichi Nosuke say this, Kato Takaaki smiled disdainfully. At the same time, the Minister of the Navy, Rokuro Yashiro, was stunned and continued. "Yes, if the Chinese get involved, maybe it's a good opportunity."

"Indeed—" The others nodded in agreement.

See this scene. Takaaki Kato continued to ask. "But what if, what if you lose?"

It is difficult to say whether Takaaki Kato is a 'hawk' or a 'dove'. Because in history, he once participated in the '21 Articles' of the Okuma Cabinet to the Beiyang government. However, in the same way, he later supported China's tariff autonomy and insisted on non-interference in China, believing that it was sufficient to maintain Japan's interests in China, so it is difficult to determine what this person was.

Although Kato Takaaki's words can only be regarded as a normal rhetorical question, it seems that Okaichi Nosuke seems to feel that he has been insulted. Immediately jumped up in anger. "The warriors of the empire will never lose, as was the case in the Sino-Japanese War, and in the Russo-Japanese War. The status of the empire today is exactly what the warriors of the empire fought for with their own blood! ”

"Okay, okay...", waving his hand, signaling Okaichi Nosuke not to be so excited, Okuma Shigenobu shook his head. War should not happen in a short period of time, this thing is ......... It would be better for us to have more time to think about it..."

Okuma's worries are the same as Kato's. It's all about what to do if the war is lost? If it succeeds. It is indeed possible to dig a piece of meat from China, as it did during the original Sino-Japanese War, but if it loses...

Ever since the beginning of the Seven-Five-Year Plan, Shigenobu Okuma has been very concerned about the situation in China, and he is well aware that there is a huge difference between China today and China during the Sino-Japanese War. In particular, after the completion of the political reform of the whole country by the Nationalist government, although it has not been able to completely complete the substantive reunification of the whole country until now, there is not much difference in fact, in other words. If war broke out, the Nationalist government could have mobilized all its forces to fight a decisive battle against Japan.

And so it goes. I am afraid that Japan's chances of victory will not be particularly high, after all, China now has more than 600,000 troops in 33 infantry divisions, and has already assembled 150,000 troops in Shandong in advance.

When a war breaks out, it's good to win, but if you lose...

"Your Excellency can rest assured in this matter, even if the army loses, our navy will never lose." Glancing at Okaichi Nosuke mockingly, Yashiro Rokuro chuckled.

Although Yashiro Rokuro and Nosuke Okaichi are on the same page on the issue of sending troops, this does not mean that he likes the army.

Hearing Yashiro Rokuro say this, Okaichi Nosuke was naturally furious, but the others laughed softly.

Indeed, as Rokuro Yashiro said, the army may still have the possibility of failure, but the navy...

Although China already has three dreadnoughts and more than a dozen new ships, the revival of the Chinese Navy has only just begun. Those new ships are only some 'small' ships of more than 1,000 tons, and at most no more than 3,000 or 4,000 tons.

The only thing to worry about is the three dreadnoughts, but with the training level of the Chinese Navy, with more than a dozen battleships of the Japanese Navy and the Kongo-class battlecruisers already in service, it is completely easy to get rid of the threat of this empire...

————————————————————

In 1906, Japan's Minister of the Navy, Minoru Saito, submitted a proposal for a naval development plan to the Cabinet, calling for the construction of three battleships and four armored cruisers in the near future. However, Japan, which had just experienced the Russo-Japanese War, was financially unable to meet the demands of the navy at once. On March 18, 1907, the Japanese Cabinet approved the construction of two battleships and one armored cruiser. The construction of two battleships ('Hanoi' and 'Settsu') began in 1909 as scheduled, but the construction of the armored cruiser ('King Kong') was delayed. In 1910, Navy Minister Minoru Saito submitted a proposal to the Cabinet again to expand the navy's armaments in the name of forming the '88th Fleet'. It was required to build 7 battleships, 3 cruisers of the 1st class, and 41 other ships.

In March 1911, the Japanese Cabinet deliberated and approved the plan for naval armaments submitted by the Minister of the Navy in the name of the 88th Fleet, and decided to suspend the original plan for building ships, and from 1911 onwards, the various budget items for building ships and the surplus funds from previous years were combined into 'armament enrichment expenses and warship manufacturing expenses,' and 158 million yuan (old Japanese currency units) was allocated annually for a period of six years. In it, a budget for the construction of 4 armored cruisers (Kongo, Hiei, Haruna, Kirishima was approved).

The Japanese Navy has always attached great importance to the rapid strike power of the fleet, so it decided to follow the example of the British Royal Navy's Lion-class battlecruisers and prioritize the construction of four battlecruisers, this is the later Kongo-class battlecruisers.

The standard displacement of the King Kong class is about 27,000 tons, and it is equipped with four eight 356mm naval guns, which is much stronger than the two dreadnoughts equipped by the Chinese Navy in terms of combat effectiveness.

And at present, the second ship, the Hiei, is also close to service, if it really does, maybe the army will lose, but the navy will definitely not lose, even Okuma Shigenobu himself thinks so. (To be continued......)