"In this case, Britain will pay more and more attention to the status of Japan," Mutsu said to the emperor, "and the Qing Dynasty has greatly offended Britain on the question of the ownership of the Congo River Valley, which is also an important reason for the signing of a treaty of friendship and mutual assistance between Japan and Britain." Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info"

"If the Qing continue to attack on African soil, then it will be good news for us in Japan," Ito said, "Britain will become more and more dissatisfied with the Qing country, and will come to help us more, with all due respect, the treaty of friendship between Japan and Britain will not be of much use, but more of a formal alliance." ”

Ito Hirobumi believes that the "Japan-Britain Treaty of Friendship and Mutual Assistance" signed by Britain and Japan is nothing more than a dead letter, which hardly involves any provisions of a military alliance, and that those loans and aid are basically impossible to use for military purposes. "Japan should not become a pawn of Britain to contain and restrain the Qing State."

Ito Yuhiro, the representative of the military department, snorted dissatisfiedly, "If Japan can become an important chess piece, then of course Japan can, this is no problem at all!" ”

"Please be careful, representative!" Hirobumi Ito shouted, "Japan should strive to become a chess player in the world, not become someone else's pawn, if it is a chess piece, then the fate of the country and the nation is not under its control!" I've never heard of anyone who would be willing to be a pawn in another country! ”

Ito Hirobumi suddenly became angry, he was a Meiji veteran, a high-ranking and extremely strategic, no one in the military department had to respect and obey him, and the representative of the military department, Ito Yuhiro, was no matter how unruly he was, and he had to bow his arrogant head in front of Ito Hirobumi, "Please forgive me, Taiko!" ”

"Japan must not become a pawn of anyone, and I hope you will remember this." Ito Hirobumi no longer paid attention to the representative of the military department, Ito Yuhiro, and said slowly, "We should become chess players in the world, but we do not reject any of those forces that try to command how Japan acts, and Britain wants to command us to deal with the Qing State, so we will absorb the power of Britain, this is a matter of course, of course, we can do it," Ito Hirobumi bowed to the emperor, "Your Majesty the Emperor, the minister has some good news, the British Parliament has approved a large amount of loans to Japan." ”

"Really?" Emperor Meiji asked, if it is a "large amount" as the prime minister said, then it must not be an ordinary small amount, Japan is really too poor, so poor that any country is unwilling to give up loans, the traditional loan shark country, France, they provide a lot of loans, but they need these loans to make money, then the interest cannot be a low price, the interest is enough to make Japan's finances very tight, a country without a sufficient domestic market, It is almost impossible to increase national income and fiscal revenue by printing more money. In the past, there were many conditions attached to the loans provided by the United Kingdom, and they were dictated about domestic affairs or the use of characteristics, but this time the United Kingdom suddenly increased the number of loans, even if the interest rate of the loans is not low, which is completely acceptable, and now, Japan needs money everywhere!

"Yes, this is good news from the active mediation of the Foreign Minister," Ito Hirobumi nodded to Tsuchiku Munemitsu, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has put in a lot of energy and effort, and Ambassador Komura has also provided a lot of reliable and useful information in the Qing Kingdom, which has convinced the British and made them convinced," Ito Hirobumi smiled confidently, "In Asia, only Japan can pose a big enough threat to the Qing Kingdom and can help Britain maintain order in Asia." ”

"Very good! The cabinet is doing a great job! The Emperor nodded happily and praised him without hesitation.

"Your Majesty, this loan is only a small matter," Ito Hirobumi continued, "the Yoshino, it will soon arrive in Japan, with this cruiser, the naval strength of our Imperial Japan can be greatly improved, and besides, Britain has decided," he paused, "and sell another warship of the same tonnage, the same price, and the same firepower as the Yoshino!" ”

"What!"

Now the emperor was not only happy, he was already completely shocked, the emperor who was originally kneeling on the throne stood up, "Taiko," he shouted in a low voice, "Is this true?!?!? ”

Navy Minister Saigo Seigo propped his hands on the tatami mats, knelt in front of Hirobumi Ito, and his eyes widened, "Taiko, what are you talking about?!" Even the representative of the military department, Ito Youheng, couldn't help but open his mouth wide, and watched in shock as Ito Hirobumi threw out such good news, the representative of the military department, Ito Youheng, is also from the navy, of course, he is most concerned about the construction of the imperial navy!

"The minister does not dare to deceive His Majesty the Emperor," Ito Hiroshi said with confidence, "Please forgive your Majesty the Emperor, because it is very confidential and the minister thinks that there is little hope, so I just asked Ambassador Komura to contact the British Ambassador in private and secretly in the Qing Kingdom to negotiate, and did not disclose any information before, but the British agreed to such a request, so please forgive the minister for the crime of arbitrariness!" ”

"How could I blame you, Taiko," Emperor Meiji stepped down from his throne and walked in front of Hirobumi Ito, "Please tell me the details quickly!" ”

"The British side has agreed to sell a cruiser that was originally going to be sold to Qing Guo, this cruiser is almost exactly the same configuration as the Yoshino, and it will be sold to us Japan at the same price, and it will be delivered to us at the end of this year or the beginning of next year," Ito Hirobumi said calmly, "In terms of price, Britain understands our difficulties and is willing to collect the purchase price in the form of installment payment, as long as we provide a little interest." ”

This is great news! "That's amazing! Taiko! Saigo said admiringly, and he made a big salute to Ito Hirobumi, "The Yoshino is the most powerful cruiser in the world, and the British were not ready to give us this one, but we did offer the highest price, and the British reluctantly sold it to us!" But now, we can have two of the best cruisers in the world like the Yoshino! And it's so fast and so well priced! You and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have worked so hard! ”“