My Italy

Tokyo in January is relatively warm due to the warm current from the Pacific Ocean. But for senior Japanese officials, today's temperature in Tokyo is extremely cold, colder than Hokkaido and colder than Siberia.

The goal I had worked hard for for the past twenty years was about to be a great success, but it was knocked away with a slap. It would be difficult for anyone else to accept it, so who can understand the coolness in my heart.

At the newly convened imperial meeting due to the defeat in the naval battle, in front of Emperor Meiji, Japanese senior officials even blamed each other and pointed at each other.

"Although our navy is responsible for the failure of this naval battle, it was also caused by various reasons."

As the direct leader of the defeat in this naval battle, Navy Minister Saigo Yumichi took the lead in blaming the blame. I saw that he did not give others a chance to speak and continued directly.

"First of all, this naval battle took place in a hasty situation and could not meet our previously formulated maritime operational requirements. The failure of the army to seize Weihaiwei was the biggest reason for the failure of the naval battle."

"Pah, Baga!"

Saigo's obvious attempt to pass the blame to the Army immediately drew rebuke from Army Minister Takashima Tomonosuke. "Your navy is so shameless and shirks its responsibilities to others. When you lose on the battlefield, you should realize your mistakes and correct them, instead of coming to complain about this and that, just like a resentful woman. And our army is in Weihai Weihaiwei has been fighting very hard, and the lack of sufficient heavy firepower is the reason why we failed to capture the entire Weihaiwei. If your navy had accepted our army's request, Weihaiwei would have been captured long ago. "

It was obvious that Takashima Tomonosuke also had foresight and took off the Army's responsibilities first. This is all because the navy is unwilling to cooperate, otherwise Weihaiwei would have been defeated long ago.

"According to what you said, is it our navy's fault that we failed to capture Weihaiwei?"

"That's how it is. Of course, as long as you can suppress the coastal defense batteries, our navy will be able to conquer Weihaiwei."

Xixiang Congdao, who was disgusted by Prime Minister Lu's shamelessness, said angrily. "Asshole, do you know that the Weihaiwei main battery is equipped with two 260mm Krupp coastal defense guns, and you let us use precious warships to attack the other side's shore guns?"

"But even though you have saved all your warships, you haven't been able to defeat the Italian fleet. If you had known this would happen, you might as well have damaged one or two warships and attack Weihaiwei first. At least this would save your navy from being so embarrassed."

"Asshole, I want to duel with you!"

The scarred Saigo became angry and wanted to have a sword showdown with Prime Minister Takashima Tomonosuke.

"Come on, let me see how much knowledge you have in swordsmanship."

Before anyone else could react, Takashima Tomonosuke was not to be outdone and fought back.

"Snapped!"

Seeing that the imperial meeting was about to turn into a kendo duel, Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi, with a gloomy expression, slammed the table in front of him.

"Both of you are masters of swordsmanship. Since you two want to learn from each other so much, let's set up a special arena for them in Tokyo. Just so the people of Tokyo can have a good look at the style of our land and sea ministers."

After all, Ito Hirobumi still had prestige, which was even more different than the puppet prime minister who was later controlled by the Japanese navy and army, so the two stopped talking.

After controlling the situation, Ito Hirobumi looked around at everyone.

"Today is not the time to call everyone together to hold people accountable. This war has not yet reached the point of admitting defeat. You are so shirking responsibility and asking people outside who are fighting for the empire to think about us."

Ito Hirobumi's words moved the senior officials at the meeting to some extent. Of course, whether they were moved by patriotic enthusiasm or by not pursuing responsibility now, they somewhat enabled the empire's center to continue to operate.

Seeing that the atmosphere was gradually improving, Ito Hirobumi continued. "The defeat in this naval battle is not the end. We still need to continue working hard for the empire. Sir Saigo, please tell us how much time it will take for the navy to recover."

Yes, Ito Hirobumi also knew the importance of the navy in this war.

"At present, the combined fleet has suffered heavy losses, and every warship has been damaged. In addition, there are currently insufficient domestic repair shipyards. It will take at least three months to completely repair it."

Saigo's words made others present frown slightly. The United Fleet was absent from the battlefield for three months, which had a great impact on the war situation. There is a huge difference between having ships and not having ships. Even if Japan is protected by coastal defenses, Japan is so big that it cannot be comprehensive.

Not to mention that the Italian fleet is so powerful that the only coastal defense fortifications in Japan that can be defended without the help of warships is Tokyo Bay.

Therefore, cabinet members have opinions on the Navy's absence for three months.

"The navy has been unable to move for three months. What should we do if enemy warships attack?"

The speaker was Minister of the Interior Kiichi Ichikawa. As the department in charge of Japan's economic development, Kiichi Ichikawa will certainly not forget the distribution map of Japan's economic development. It can be said responsibly that most of Japan's economic development is located in coastal areas, so he is extremely nervous.

In fact, what he said also expressed the sentiments of others. Without the protection of the navy, what should we do if an enemy ship attacks?

The coastal defense forts, but except for Tokyo Bay, which currently scares the enemy, the coastal defenses in other places cannot prevent the incoming enemy ships.

Facing the questioning gazes of the Minister of the Interior or everyone, Saigo Congdao couldn't stand it, so he hurriedly spoke.

"Although our navy has suffered a lot of losses, the enemy ships will not feel too good about it. In addition, considering that the enemy ships also have tasks that need to be completed, according to our estimation, it will take at least a month for the enemy ships to be repaired before they can resume normal maritime operations. capabilities. And we can completely use this time to urgently purchase a batch of warships, preferably large battleships or torpedo boat coastal defense ships for offshore defense. Or we can ask the British whether there are any large warships that are on the verge of being scrapped."

Although Xixiang Congdao's words are not urgent, they are also the best way for Japan at present. Warships are not cabbage. You can buy them if you want. And even if you sell them, it is extremely difficult to buy a finished warship that can be used immediately. Not to mention that selling warships to Japan requires risking offending Italy, but those who can ignore Italian pressure and are willing to sell warships will not give a second thought except the British Empire.

Therefore, only by asking for help from the British Empire can the Japanese Empire tide over the difficulties.

"Foreign Minister Mutsu, ask about Britain's attitude. Tell us about our difficulties and ask the British Empire to lend a helping hand. We will be grateful."

As Prime Minister, Hirobumi Ito still strongly agrees with the Admiralty Minister's approach. After all, the naval battle has been lost and the result cannot be changed. It is a qualified politician's duty to find a way to remedy the situation first.

Of course, talking about the defeat in the naval battle, Ito Hirobumi asked again. "What do you think of this naval defeat?"

It was obvious that Prime Minister Ito had a lot of resentment towards this naval battle, so he naturally complained about the losing navy.

"Prime Minister, our Navy Department has conducted a very in-depth study of the failure of this naval battle. We believe that strategically we were not prepared for the intervention of great powers and failed to prevent Italy from participating in this war. And tactically, The defeat in the naval battle was more due to strength. The officers and soldiers of the Combined Fleet had worked very hard, and tactically we had a slight advantage by relying on the advantage of predicting the enemy. But in the face of the enemy's absolute strength, our small advantages It cannot be converted into victory at all. The enemy easily broke our plan with its powerful battleship formation, so our navy believes that the lack of battleships in the combined fleet is the most important factor in the defeat of this naval battle. The empire needs battleships and needs to be able to compete with the Turin class The countervailing battleship."

Saigo took a long detour and turned the navy's review of the failure into an act of asking for a battleship. I also saw other people dumbfounded, this must be too shameless.

However, Hirobumi Ito did not stop him from speaking. Instead, he put an extra burden on Foreign Minister Mutsu Munemitsu. "Mushitsu-kun, when you met with the British, you informed us of our requirements. If the British are not willing to sell now, we are willing to order battleships that can at least compete with the Turin class after the war."

After listening to Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi's request, Mutsu Munemitsu wiped the sweat from his forehead, hesitated and said, "I'll give it a try."

Ito Hirobumi saw clearly that if Japan wants to find a way out, it must find a way from its neighbor, the Qing Dynasty. Although the unexpected factor of Italy has appeared this time, Japan will always have a way as long as it strengthens its armed forces. After all, they had already seen clearly what the Qing army was like during the war.

And as long as Britain chooses Japan as an ally to resist Russia's penetration of the Far East, everything will be easy to say. Isn't it just borrowing money? As long as the more you borrow, the British will help themselves.

Next, the imperial meeting discussed further about how to deal with the Italian attack, such as taking advantage of the current naval maintenance period of both sides to quickly transport a batch of supplies to the front line. After all, North Korea's long-disrepaired official road is not suitable for transporting supplies. Words are too laborious and can only be considered better than nothing. Also, various places are required to strengthen their vigilance and strive to detect incoming Italian warships as soon as possible, etc.

However, these methods are actually avoiding one problem, that is, why not take advantage of the current advantage to negotiate with the Qing Dynasty?

I believe that all of these important ministers here cannot fail to see that the war situation has reversed after the defeat in the naval battle, and Japan has been rapidly sliding towards failure.

Why does no one ask this question? Because they dare not. The Japanese government has used nationalism to incite the people. Under the news of previous victories, the people have reached the peak of fanaticism. Some people have already called for occupying the Northeast and North China of Korea and the Qing Dynasty, and turning the Yellow Sea into Japan's inland sea. This shows how crazy and crazy he is.

At this time, any behavior or news that pours cold water on the situation will not be accepted by the people. If you tell him now that Japan lost a key naval battle and must accept a defeat, unless the heavens come to your house to punish the national traitors, he will be considered fasting and chanting Buddha's name.

Yes, the Japanese government is hijacked by a passionate public, and anyone who offers to negotiate will not end well. Who is willing to stand up, and even standing up is useless. Personal power cannot stop the fanatical public sentiment at all, even if this public sentiment is extremely dangerous.

So politicians like them can only try to save it, and they don't have no chance. The opportunity lies in the Qing's regulations on employing Italians.

An Italian soldier killed in battle needs to be given at least 800 taels of silver, and each disabled soldier needs to be given 600 taels of silver. In addition, the arms and warships used need to be paid. The finances of the Qing Dynasty are not much better than Japan, so how can they get so much money? When the Qing Dynasty couldn't stand it anymore, it would naturally be willing to sit down and talk.

That's right, taking the lives of Japanese soldiers and consuming the Qing's finances was their only way.

Compared with Japan's two cents recruiting a soldier, the Italian soldiers hired by the Qing Dynasty were too expensive. War is also a war of attrition, it depends on who can't bear it first.

Thanks to book friend Rupresit for the information, thank you very much!