Japan, Tokyo, Saionji Konobo's residence. When Ito Hirobumi walked into the living room, in addition to Saionji Konobo, there were actually many heads of the Japanese Army! Kawakami Soroku, Katsura Taro, Kodama Gentaro, Japan in the Meiji period

All three of the army's three-legged soldiers are here! Looking at Kawakami's mischievous eyes, Ito Hirobumi smiled awkwardly.

"Is Ito-kun planning to misappropriate the Japanese army's military expenditures to buy warships for the navy?" Kawakami Soroku sneered.

"Kawakami-kun is joking again." Ito Hirobumi said with a smile.

"Where does the navy's warship expenses come from? The budget is definitely gone, and asking citizens to donate is just a drop in the bucket. Even if you turn Japan upside down, you will never be able to satisfy the appetite of those guys in the navy! If you don't divert the army's budget, will Ito-kun still have money?

Is there any other way?" Kawakami Soroku said excitedly.

"Ito-kun, a few months ago you and Kawakami-kun explained the importance of the navy. Our army expressed understanding and agreed to the Japanese Navy's purchase of two new dome-armed cruisers. But now, the navy is not satisfied. The navy is important. Are we?

Isn’t the Army important?

The navy can only guarantee undefeated, while our army must strive for victory! Otherwise, it will just be an undefeated ending. What do you want the Japanese Empire to do to repay the loans and national debts? How do you want the government to explain to the people who have scrimped on food and clothing to support the navy and army?

"Kodama Gentaro said angrily.

"I, Hirobumi Ito, guarantee in the name of the samurai that the army's military expenditure will never be reduced." After hearing Gentaro Kodama's hostile words, Hirobumi Ito said seriously.

"Then I don't know how Ito-kun can raise enough money for the navy's shipbuilding without reducing the army's military expenditure." Kawakami Soroku said fiercely, if the meeting a few months ago made Kawakami understand Ito Hirobumi's attitude towards the navy.

In terms of attitude, Kawakami now feels like he has been tricked by Ito Hirobumi!!

"Borrow money from abroad!!" Ito Hirobumi said with a livid face.

"That's easy to say." Kawakami snorted coldly.

"Ito-kun, the tone of the British government has changed somewhat, and the Jewish consortium, which has a huge influence on British finance, has stated that it will purchase Japanese government bonds with caution." The official of Saionji, who had not spoken yet, said with a stern face.

"How could this happen?" This was something Ito Hirobumi didn't expect.

"Because Beiyang decided to issue bonds, using the mines of Kailuan Coal Mine, Tianjin Machinery Bureau and Shanghai Cotton Mill as collateral. The British believe that our bonds have exceeded the government's solvency." Xiyuan Temple Gongwang said.

"This is completely an excuse. The real reason is definitely not like this." Ito Hirobumi was like a wounded beast. In his eyes, one of the most important reasons why Japan defeated the Qing Dynasty was that it could obtain a large amount of funds by borrowing debt from Britain to reorganize the country.

Arms war, and now, if the British reduce the purchase of national debt, it will undoubtedly be a drain on Japan, which is expanding its military. How can Ito Hirobumi not be shocked by this?

"According to Mr. Aoki's analysis, the British believe that we have no chance to defeat the Qing Dynasty. After all, the three warships ordered by the Qing Dynasty in Italy have already started construction, and our order for a new batch of warships is still far away. In this case, within 5 years,

, the Japanese Navy is not an opponent of the Beiyang Fleet at all, and our country’s financial resources have reached the limit, and the tax standards for people are three times higher than those of British and American countries. This is unreasonable in the eyes of the British

. So they doubted our solvency. And in the Batavia incident, according to the report of the British commander General Freemantle, the British government believed that with the help of Colonel Langwilly, the training level of the Northern Fleet was extremely high.

"High. The quality of Japanese navy personnel is not as good as that of the Qing Dynasty's Beiyang Navy. In this case, the British will not support us." Xiyuanji Gongwang said weakly, as if all his life had been drained.

"Impossible, Japan is an emerging capitalist country, more vigorous than the Qing Dynasty, and more suitable to be the master of East Asia! The British cannot ignore us like this." Ito Hirobumi lost control of his emotions and shouted at the top of his lungs. This move made

Kawakami Cao Liu and others, who were full of hostility just now, were also shocked. They all comforted each other.

"Tell Mr. Aoki that he must tell British Prime Minister Salisbury that the Japanese Empire has the ability to defeat the Qing Dynasty and can help the British resist Russian penetration in the Far East. Japan's political system and economic system are

Compared with the Qing Dynasty, Japan was established with the help of the British. Japan is Britain's natural ally in the Far East. Please convey Japan's goodwill to the British Parliament." Ito Hirobumi said intermittently.

"Then what if the British still don't listen?" Katsura said in a low voice.

"Then Japan will have no hope of war against the Qing Dynasty. Can you imagine Japan going on an expedition to Korea or even Northeast China without relying on debt?" Ito Hirobumi said.

"Are we going to give up all the strategic plans we made back then?" Kawakami Soroku asked.

"Unless we can find new sources of funds." Xiyuan Temple Gongwang sighed.

"What about the Russians? The French want to fight Germany in Europe and have little influence in the Far East. But the Russians are different. They are also eyeing the Qing Dynasty. They can work with the Japanese Empire to deal with this behemoth in the East." Katsura Taro suggested.

.

"The Russians are not only eyeing the Qing Dynasty? They are also a threat to the Japanese Empire. Asking the Russians for help is tantamount to seeking the skin of a tiger. This is absolutely unacceptable." Ito Hirobumi objected.

"Russia's current power in the Far East is very weak. The railway across the entire Russia has not yet been built. The Russians are simply unable to transport large quantities of materials and personnel to the Far East. Moreover, the Russian Far East fleet is also very weak and does not pose a threat to the Japanese Empire at all.

"Kawakami Soroku also expressed support for Katsura Taro's proposal.

"Short-sighted guy. Russia's expansion into the Far East is its established national policy. The Qing Dynasty is his goal, and Japan is also his goal! And this railway will be built sooner or later, and Russia's attention will turn to the east sooner or later! This is irreversible

Yes, even on the day

If our empire defeats the Qing Dynasty by borrowing money from Russia, most of the war dividends will also be taken by the Russians. By then, we in Japan will be just a thug of Russia, and we will get no benefits at all!!" Ito

Bowen said sadly.

"This matter still needs to be discussed in the long term. Or should we first see whether Mr. Aoki can convince the British Prime Minister? At least for now, the UK can still sell part of its national debt and use the money to buy warships and firearms first." Looking at the endless debate.

On both sides, Xiyuanji Gongwang proposed to shelve this topic for the time being. After all, the attitude of the British was still unclear.

"Okay, let's do this first. Tell Mr. Aoki, don't be afraid of spending money. As long as you can convince the British government to continue buying Japanese government bonds, you can spend any amount of money." Hirobumi Ito emphasized again and again.

However, unlike Ito Hirobumi's idea of ​​​​pulling the British to life and death, the Japanese army's three-legged crows, Kawakami Soroku, Katsura Taro, and Kodama Gentaro believed that they could not rely on the British when necessary. After all, the British were too far away from Japan.

And Russia is right next to Japan. If Japan can win the Sino-Japanese War with the support of Russia, as long as it can get enough compensation from the Qing Dynasty

and land, then Japan has every hope of pretending to be bigger before Russia turns its attention to the East. By then, facing a powerful Japan, the Russians can only admit the reality, and it is not a bad idea to even defeat the Russians.

.It was this idea of ​​the Army’s top brass that led to disagreements with pro-British figures such as Ito Hirobumi. Of course, this is a story for later, so let’s not mention it for now.
Chapter completed!