Tokyo, Japan, Ito Hirobumi's official residence. Ito Hirobumi sent a copy of Shuzang Aoki's telegram to everyone present. In this room, almost all the leading figures of the Japanese Navy gathered. Kaguyama Shiki, who had just become the Minister of the Navy, the Navy

Major General Tsuboi Kozo, (who became the first commander during the Sino-Japanese War of Sino-Japanese War), was

The Japanese Navy Ministry internally designated Ito Yuhiro as the commander of the standing fleet, (officially appointed in 1892), Saigo Yumichi, who once served as the navy minister and has been transferred to the reserve, and Saionji Komochi, who has a close relationship with Ito Hirobumi.

The six people sat together, looking at Aoki Shuzo's telegram with a frown.

"Now Congress has refused to spend more money to order warships. The Beiyang Fleet is now adding three more 5,000-ton cruisers. All the old ships will also have their guns replaced, and it is said that Dingzhen, Zhiyuan and Jingyuan 4

The ship will also be equipped with new artillery. If this continues, the Japanese fleet will have no hope of defeating the Beiyang Navy, and the plan to occupy North Korea and use North Korea as a stepping stone to invade the Qing Dynasty will not be implemented." Shiki Kayama said with a sigh.

.

"Congress's disapproval is still a trivial matter. What's more important is that Japan can no longer spend more money to buy warships. This is the key. Japan's current finances are close to the limit!!" Ito Hirobumi said with a livid face.

said.

"Yes, after hearing about the Qing Dynasty's move to purchase new ships, we hurriedly ordered a new 4,250-ton dome cruiser (Yoshino ordered it in advance). This cost a total of 300,000 pounds. This is basically

It’s one-third of Japan’s navy’s military expenditure.” said Saionji Kōwang.

"Even including this new ship, our Japanese Navy only has four new fast dome-armored cruisers, which do not have an advantage in terms of tonnage, let alone firepower and performance. Once the war starts, our original plan was to use 4

A new dome-armored cruiser's tactical attempt to split from the flanks will

It cannot be realized. The opponent's three new cruisers can block our fast formation, and the fleet will face eight strengthened battleships from Beiyang. In this way, the consequences will be unimaginable." Tsuboi Kozo said from a tactical perspective

Analyze the difficulties faced by the Japanese fleet.

"Then according to what everyone said, if the Japanese Empire wants to continue its original plan, it must purchase new warships?" Saionji Gongwang asked a seemingly silly question.

"The war must be fought. Since the navy needs battleships, we will discuss how to obtain the highest combat power at the lowest cost. As for the money issue, we will find a way." Ito Hirobumi glanced at Saionji Konobo and said. Just then

After Ito Hirobumi said these words, Saionji Konobo stood up and without saying a word, opened the door and left the venue. Only Ito Hirobumi and a group of navy executives were left looking at each other.

"It's too much for Saionji to look down on us like this just because of his status as a member of the Ninth National University." After reacting, Ito Yuhiro said dissatisfied.

"Saionji-kun is under too much pressure. In order to raise one more yen for our navy and army, he argued with the congressmen. In order to get Western European countries to buy more national debt, he went around among the ambassadors of various countries. If

We were able to defeat the Qing Dynasty, and Lord Xiyuanji definitely contributed a lot." Xixiang Tongdao reprimanded.

"Okay, let's get back to the topic, how to get the most combat power with the least money. You are professionals, so please express your opinions." Ito Hirobumi adjusted his mood and said.

"Based on the telegram sent by Mr. Aoki from the UK and the opinions of Colonel Ingalls, there are two battleships that are very suitable for our army. One is the Edgar-class cruiser recommended by Sir Watts for the empire. This is a new type of battleship.

It's a first-class cruiser with very good firepower and speed. The protection is also quite satisfactory. The key is that the price is relatively cheap. It only costs 550,000 pounds." When he said this, Tsuboi Kozo almost slapped himself in the mouth!! 550,000 yuan is so cheap.

.

"Uh, keep going." Seeing the embarrassment and frustration on the faces of the Navy's top brass after hearing the cost, Ito Hirobumi said with a wry smile.

"However, according to Colonel Ingalls' analysis, the ship's stem may be relatively low, and some of its artillery may not be usable when sailing at high speeds," said Kazuyama Shiki.

"There is no better choice. We can only buy this ship. The UK has good ships, but we can't afford it. This warship gets the maximum combat effectiveness at the lowest cost. We have no choice." Tsuboi Kozo

I reiterate that this is the best choice.

"Don't we have an improvement plan for the 4,250-ton cruiser? The main thing is to enhance the firepower. It doesn't matter if the speed is slower, but we must ensure that it can cause a fatal blow after hitting the opponent." Ito Hirobumi asked.

"This plan was proposed by several of our captains, but Colonel Ingalls objected. Yoshino already has a lot of armaments. If 8-inch 40L guns are installed at the bow and stern, and some of the guns on the side of the ship are replaced with 6-inch guns,

Stability of the battleship

It will have a great impact. Please don’t forget that the Mu Pang sank in a storm before it even reached Japan because it had too much armament and poor stability. And this time in Aoki-kun’s telegram, Sir Watts also said this

Opinion." Tsuboi Kozo said.

"In other words, no matter how we modify it, it will be difficult for this 4,250-ton warship to have any potential anymore?" Ito Hirobumi asked.

"That's true, but the Navy still recommends purchasing a warship with 8-inch cannons installed at the front and stern. At least, the 8-inch cannon can cause fatal damage to the new Qing Dynasty warships." Yuhiro Ito said.

"That means the Imperial Navy will add at least two more warships like this?" Ito Hirobumi said.

"This is just the battleship added to the fast fleet. Our team must also add battleships, because in the original plan, the fast fleet and our team fought against the main force of the Beiyang, while an Edgar class and an improved 4,000-ton cruiser fought against each other.

The three 5,000-ton cruisers are still inferior.

Wind, and compared with the combat power of the original planned fleet and the Beiyang Fleet after installing new guns, the Beiyang Fleet is still slightly stronger (of course Japan overestimated the Beiyang in this regard). Overall, the Imperial Navy is still weak." Tsuboi

Kosanrao is so thick-skinned that he can't resist Ito Hirobumi's murderous gaze.

"Okay, go on, tell me all your requests. I want to see how big the appetite the navy has to absorb such a large budget!!" Ito Hirobumi said with an angry smile. He was now very sympathetic to his negative stance just now.

Mr. Saionji Temple, this navy’s appetite is really too big. Although it is indeed necessary, you should also consider Japan’s economy and finance when you propose conditions?

"To put an end to the data of Colonel Ingalls and Mr. Aoki, the Arrogance-class battleship in the British Navy is very suitable. Its performance is as follows, with a displacement of 8,500 tons, a length of 96 meters, a width of 18.9 meters, and a draft of 8.15 meters. The main engine output is 8,000 horsepower.

, maximum speed 16

Section, the main armor is steel-faced iron armor, up to 10 inches thick, the main gun mount is 9 inches. The gun gallery armor is 2 inches, and the command tower is 9 inches. The armament is 4 9.2-inch guns and 10 6-inch guns in a cross division.

, 4 6-pound guns, and 6 18-inch torpedo tubes." Tsuboi Kozo said.

"I object. This is an old ship, and the 9.2-inch guns and 6-inch guns on it are all retractable guns, and the rate of fire is extremely slow." Kashan Ziji said loudly.

"This is basically the cheapest battleship that can compete with Dingzhen." Tsuboi Kozo did not answer Kaguyama Shiki's protest, but said to Ito Hirobumi.

"Then let's order this ship first. The weapons and equipment can be replaced. Just go slower. Anyway, the speed of our team will not be too fast. After all, there are old ships like Fuso in it." Hirobumi Ito agreed. In fact,

Hirobumi Ito doesn’t have much research on battleships, but Kozo Tsuboi’s last sentence is so attractive, the price is the lowest, well, that’s it!!

Some book friends said that the update problem is too slow. The author does not write very fast because he is not a professional writer after all. But he definitely doesn’t know how to do it. Do you think this is okay? One update from Monday to Friday, and two updates every six days~
Chapter completed!