>

The same naval battle represents hope and a new beginning for the Beiyang Fleet. At the same time, it also represents a new beginning for Japan, a beginning to slide into the abyss! How majestic the Combined Fleet was when it set off a week ago. But what about now? Looking at the two ships that had been flooded in large quantities, the side chords had been beaten to shreds, and the bridge was burned beyond recognition, and there were traces of bitter acid burning and bright red blood everywhere. It is as if a battleship will sink to the bottom of the sea if you are not careful. The Japanese naval officers and men waiting in Hiroshima felt that their hearts were about to break.

Although the Hashidate, which had returned early, had already told the Japanese Navy Minister Saigo Tomichi about the general situation. But he still doesn't believe that the naval battle, which is almost a must-win, will be defeated! In his opinion, even with the addition of 3 Garibaldi-class battleships, the Japanese fleet would not be so unbearable. It wasn't until he stood in the harbor and saw the two last battleships of the Japanese Combined Fleet returning to the sea, looking at the hull that had been beaten and almost deformed, and when he heard the news that Shiki Kayama and others had died in battle, the head of the Japanese Navy finally couldn't support it anymore and fell to the ground.

On the night of Tsuboi's return, the Japanese base camp held an emergency meeting to discuss countermeasures. When the bigwigs in the base camp heard that the combined fleet was completely annihilated, their faces immediately turned blue, and beads of sweat the size of beans fell down their cheeks. The Minister of the Navy, Saigo, was even more eager to find a crack to get into.

"What the hell is going on? Didn't Shikiri Kayama say before departure that after this battle, the Beiyang Fleet would no longer pose a threat? How did you turn around and let the Beiyang Fleet be wiped out? War Minister Oyama Iwatie said with a blushing face. (Historically, on September 25, 94, Oyama Rock went to the front line to fight.) But in this plane, because the army offensive has been delayed, Dashan Yan still stays in the base camp. ）

Li Hongzhang didn't know what benefits Lu Dao gave to the Italians, who actually sold the latest 3 10,000-ton warships to the Qing State. And our intelligence services don't know anything about it. As a result, the Combined Fleet was shamelessly attacked by the Beiyang Naval Division. Saigo stammered and explained. Perhaps someone forgot that it was Japan's undeclared war in the Battle of Toshima that led to the outbreak of war. This shamelessness is most appropriate for the Japanese. What's more, his own espionage skills are not in place. I can't blame Beiyang.

"Shameless quibble!" Dashan Yan said angrily.

"Alright. This is not the time to point fingers at each other, the fall of the combined fleet is already a fact. Let's now reshape what the Empire should do next. Emperor Meiji said that this was not the time for quarrels. There is not much point in holding accountable. What goes next is what matters.

"It's nothing more than war or peace. Let us share your opinions. Hirobumi Ito said.

"Although the minefields in the Korean Strait will create a certain obstacle for the Beiyang Fleet. But sooner or later, the Beiyang Fleet will be able to clear a path. At that time, the remaining warships of the Combined Fleet will not be able to guarantee the smooth flow of sea transportation. "When it comes to the last time, Saigo is simply unspeakable. The remaining 3 battered battleships still call themselves the Combined Fleet? You must know that the remaining three ships are at most the strength of the combined fleet guerrilla formation at the beginning of the war. It's still repaired!

Hearing Saigo's words, Emperor Meiji's heart couldn't help but tighten. There was also a painful expression on his face. The meaning of Saigo's words is very clear, the navy is gone, and the supply lines of the army cannot be guaranteed. As an island country, Japan has no way to fight anymore, and what it says is very reasonable. But if this war, which Japan has been preparing for for more than 20 years, fails, will there be a tomorrow for Japan?

"As long as the minefield can be delayed for a while, and then get a certain amount of supplies from the Russians, the Imperial Army can hit Shenyang in the Qing Kingdom, and even Shanhaiguan and the Forbidden City!" Without the navy, it will naturally be difficult for China's transport ships to ensure transportation. However, after the Imperial Army took control of Korea, our Russian friends could use small boats to provide certain supplies to the Imperial Army in the near sea, and after entering the Northeast. Food and other supplies can also be collected nearby. Oyama Rock objected. …,

To be honest, Dashan Yan doesn't necessarily believe half of the above paragraph, but he must say that on the one hand, he puts the responsibility for the defeat on the navy. On the other hand, the army has not yet had a chance to exert its full strength, and if the war is stopped like this, let alone Oyama Iwa, I am afraid that the entire Japanese army will be turned upside down. Although the army did not fight well, it had already taken some advantage in ~~-update~~.

"Can the Army quickly occupy North Korea? How much combat power does the Beiyang Army Division have left? Emperor Meiji asked.

"The Beiyang Army's Nie Shicheng Division has been compressed to the Pyongyang area. The Korean region was already under the control of the Imperial Army, and it was only a matter of time before Nie Shicheng's troops were eaten or driven out to sea. As for the strength of the Beiyang Army, even if Li Hanzhang's troops and Liu Mingchuan's troops are counted, the Imperial Army still has an advantage, as for the Eight Banners and the Green Battalion? These troops are not worth mentioning at all, the only problem is logistics. In particular, the supply of ammunition and weapons. Oyama replied.

"In other words, as long as the logistics can keep up, the empire still has the possibility of victory?" Emperor Meiji asked, his eyes lit up.

"If there are no problems with supplies, the Imperial Army can at least control Korea and Northeast China. The Beiyang Army could only hold out in the face of less than a third of the Imperial Army's troops. If the Imperial Army can send more than 150,000, the northeast region of the Qing Kingdom will be at the mercy of the Imperial Army! Dashan Yan said affirmatively.

"But how do you want the Empire to ensure the supply of such a large number of troops? Relying on the petty supply of the Russians alone, without the supremacy of the sea, the empire still has no chance! Saigo couldn't stand the nonsense of Dashan Yan, and interrupted angrily. The right to dominate the sea is gone, and no amount of transport ships can withstand the attrition. The best option now is to use the advantage of the army to get a decent truce, and wait until the Imperial Navy is rebuilt to get revenge. It is ridiculous that an island nation should be entangled in any land superiority when its navy has been defeated.

"If the admiral is still like Shikinori Kayama, I'm afraid that even if we rebuild the navy, it will still fail, right?" Dashan Yan said with a sneer.

"Commander Birch Hill died in battle, and although he was defeated, he was still a hero. The Beiyang Fleet has 3 more warships equivalent to the British Centurion class, and no one can save this situation. Please be respectful. Hirobumi Ito also felt that Oyama Iwa was talking too much. So warned.

"Saigo-kun, we all know what you think, the navy is finished, and as an island country, no matter how good the army is, it's useless. An armistice is the best option. Hirobumi Ito said calmly. But did you know what would have happened to the Empire of Japan if it had not received colonies and reparations in this battle? Immediately, Ito Hirofumi changed his words and said coldly.

"Do you know that last year, 70 percent of the fiscal revenue was used to support the troops' operations, and this year, the budget for military spending is as high as 80 percent. In addition to these. The empire also issued at least 200 million yen in foreign debt. Well, okay Saigo-kun, you tell me, if the war is lost. What will the empire take to pay such a high foreign debt? If there is an armistice, then the next day, it will be the day when the imperial government goes bankrupt. The achievements of more than 20 years of the Wise Restoration will be wiped out overnight! Hirobumi Ito said loudly.

(Historically, Japan's military spending in '94 accounted for ...... of the budget.) Annual military spending accounts for ...... There is another 150 million yen in temporary war expenses every year. The foreign debt was as high as 100 million yen, and the amount of military spending in this book was increased because the Japanese army was larger and the fighting was longer. ）

"And that Lord Li probably doesn't want to stop the war, Beiyang is also riddled with debts, and a lot of equipment is purchased through loans, I'm afraid that the three second-class battleships are also bought with loans, if the empire wants to negotiate peace, I'm afraid that the conditions proposed by Li Hongzhang will be quite harsh. The loss of Beiyang may be paid by the empire at the very least! Shuzo Aoki, who had been observing, interjected that since the deterioration of relations between Britain and Japan, the Japanese government had replaced him, and this time he also attended the meeting at the expanded meeting of the base camp. As a diplomat, he looked at the issue of war and peace from the other side's point of view. …,

"Then we can bypass this Li Hongzhang. Is it okay to negotiate directly with the Qing State Center? "Saigo is still a little unwilling.

"Impossible, Li Hongzhang will not pay for this war himself, and it is doubtful whether the Qing government can support this huge amount of money. Li Hongzhang was quite tough on Japan this time, and since the Beiyang Naval Division had almost completely annihilated the Japanese Combined Fleet, there was no reason why he should not offer higher conditions. Therefore, this military spending will definitely fall on our country. Moreover, the Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Yamen is also in the hands of Li Hongzhang, if he can hinder it, I am afraid that our note will not be sent to the Qing court! "Aoki Shuzo directly shattered Saigo's hope from the most difficult road.

"Why did Li Hongzhang, who has always only sought peace, suddenly change his sex?" Oyama asked.

"I'm afraid this has a lot to do with that upstart in Beiyang, if I'm not mistaken, Beiyang can have today's momentum, this guy is afraid that he is the overall planner of the other party behind the scenes." And for the sake of his own safety, I am afraid that Li Hongzhang wants to rely on this war to establish his position as the most powerful faction in the Qing Dynasty. Therefore, from top to bottom, Beiyang is afraid that it will not be easy to negotiate peace. In addition, Li Hanzhang, the governor of Liangguang, and Liu Mingchuan, the governor of Taiwan, supported these feudal officials, and the help of the Huai system in various places. Even if the center wants to negotiate peace, I am afraid that it will not be possible. Hirobumi Ito calmly analyzed.

"The only way for an empire to continue fighting is to keep fighting?" Emperor Meiji, who had been silent, asked.

"There may still be a glimmer of hope in the war, and it is definitely an abyss!" Hirobumi Ito replied.

"Then let's fight, for the empire to have a better tomorrow, in order to conquer East Asia, you should work hard!" Emperor Meiji stood up and said