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Text Chapter 237 Japan Begs to Surrender

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    In the main hall of the Imperial Palace of Japan, Emperor Meiji is sitting high on the throne. However, Emperor Meiji is now pale, as if he has just recovered from a serious illness. He does not look like an emperor at all, but looks like a sickly person.

    Under the throne, Ito Hirobumi and the cabinet members were divided into two sides, kneeling and sitting underneath.  Also, Prince Komatsunomiya Akihito, Chief of Staff of the Army.  Lieutenant General Gonbei Yamamoto, Chief of Naval Command, and Rear Admiral Heihachiro Togo, Commander of the Combined Fleet.  Of course, Major General Togo Heihachiro has just taken over the position of Yuhiro Ito. Although he is named the commander of the Combined Fleet, he actually leads only dozens of torpedo boats in Tokyo Bay.

    "Everyone, the army was defeated, and more than 100,000 imperial warriors were shattered. This time, the empire's defeat has become a foregone conclusion. Can you tell me where the future of the empire will be?" Emperor Meiji cheered up and said loudly.  Even if the war is defeated, Japan cannot collapse like this. As the emperor, he should lead everyone to continue to struggle until Japan truly rises.

    "Your Majesty, I think it's time to propose peace to China and end the war!" Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi said.  He now regrets that he should have negotiated peace with Western Sichuan when the United Fleet was defeated. In that case, he might have been able to save the army.  As a result, not only is the navy gone, the army is also crippled and its destruction is imminent.

    "So, will the Chinese accept our conditions? Or, will they offer any conditions that the empire cannot accept?" Emperor Meiji said.  Defeat is not terrible. What is terrible is how Japan satisfies Sichuan's appetite.  Now Japan has been basically disarmed. If Sichuan West is willing, it can even destroy Japan.  Of course, Japan will not sit still and wait for death. If Western Sichuan really sends troops to land on the Japanese mainland, even if all 40 million Japanese citizens are shattered, they will still fight Western Sichuan to the end.  Of course, Western Sichuan has obviously taken this into consideration and has no intention of sending troops to land in Japan yet.  However, Western Sichuan used a naval blockade to cause huge losses to Japan.  After losing the maritime trade channel, Japan's domestic prices have skyrocketed, especially food prices. Many people with lower incomes have to rely on wild vegetables to survive.  If this continues, there will probably be widespread famine.  Therefore, Japan had to surrender and end the war.  If it drags on any longer, Japan will really be doomed.

    "Your Majesty, I will try my best to protect the interests of the empire. However, with the defeat of the army and navy, the empire's hope of ending the war with dignity has been dashed, and I am afraid it will have to pay a certain price." Ito Hirobumi said.

    "I can accept a small price. However, we failed this time, and we will have a chance to rise next time. Don't lose confidence. From the Meiji Restoration to the present, we have struggled for nearly thirty years to achieve our current achievements.  Although we did not succeed this time, if we struggle for another thirty years, or perhaps in less time, we will be able to regain the strength to challenge China. By then, we will have a showdown with China!" Emperor Meiji said loudly  , cheering for his ministers.

    "Hi!" Many Japanese ministers and senior officials replied one after another.

    "Your Majesty, I have exchanged views with the British, French, Russian and American ministers in the past two days. They will fully support the empire and try not to let China weaken the empire excessively!" Foreign Minister Mutsu Munemitsu said.

    "Hmph! These devils just want us to help them resist the Chinese people, and they are also uneasy and well-intentioned! One day, after we defeat China and truly rise, we must settle the accounts with these devils and let them know,  The Yamato nation is the best nation!" Prince Komatsunomiya Akihito, Chief of Staff of the Army, said bitterly.  Although he is not a member of the cabinet, he is the chief of staff, a member of the royal family, and has a very high status.  However, he has never had a good impression of foreigners.

    "The ghosts really can't be believed. However, this time the empire needs to rely on their power to protect the empire. Even if they act as their pawn this time, there is no way. With the support of the Western powers, it may not take long for the empire to be able to  As long as we succeed in challenging China, we will be able to truly rise. By then, we will no longer be afraid of them!" Emperor Meiji said.

    "Your Majesty, you have a clear warning!" everyone shouted.

    "Mutsu Munemitsu, please contact the Western powers immediately. Our Empire of Japan is willing to have peace talks with Western Sichuan for the sake of peace in the Far East. And, ask for their help, and we must protect the core interests of the Empire of Japan no matter what!" Emperor Meiji said.

    "Hi! Your Majesty, I will do my best to do this." Mutsu Munemitsu said.

    Emperor Meiji nodded, and then said: "As for the army and navy, I hope you can learn something from this war."?So that we can defeat the Chinese next time!  "

    "Yes, Your Majesty!" Minister of War Oyama Iwa and Minister of Navy Saigo Nakamichi replied quickly.

    "Your Majesty, the two 'Fuji-class' battleships built by the Imperial Navy in the UK, the 'Fuji' and the 'Yashima' are not inferior to the Chinese battleships. If the Imperial Navy wants to defeat the Chinese Navy, it must build more  Such a large ship. I believe that we must prepare at least six battleships and six armored cruisers, as well as supporting cruisers and lightning strike ships, so that we can shorten the gap with the China Navy and defeat the China Navy in the next war.  !" Said Xixiang Congdao.  After the battleships from Nishi Sichuan returned to China, Japan also tightened its belt and ordered two battleships from the United Kingdom. These two battleships are improved versions of the British "Sovereign Class" battleships and have powerful combat capabilities.  However, construction only started last year, and it will not be ready for service until at least 1897, so it will not be able to catch up with this war.

    "We will discuss naval shipbuilding matters after this negotiation with the Chinese is over. In order to defeat the Chinese and realize the rise of the empire, it is worth the hard work of the imperial subjects for another thirty years!" Emperor Meiji said.

    "Your Majesty, the army also needs to be equipped with more and more powerful artillery. In addition, the combat effectiveness of the Chinese army is very powerful, not inferior to the warriors of the empire. Therefore, the imperial army needs to expand its army and at least maintain the hundred-year strength of the Chinese army.  A scale of more than 70%. At the same time, increase the firepower of the troops as much as possible!" Army Minister Oyama Iwa also said.

    Emperor Meiji nodded, and then said: "We will make detailed arrangements after the negotiations with China are over!"

    However, Minister of Finance Watanabe Kunitake frowned.  If the Navy wants to build ships, battleships and armored cruisers, how much money will it cost?  The Army is not willing to be lonely. If it wants to expand its army, it also needs to add more artillery. This also requires a lot of funds!  Japan is now heavily in debt and extremely poor. How can it still have the money to expand its armaments?  In addition to this defeat, I don¡¯t know how much the price will be paid!  Therefore, Watanabe Kunitake feels that he is under great pressure!

    The next day, May 27, Japanese Consul in Chengdu Yuichi Kawaguchi met with Western Sichuan Foreign Minister Wu Tingfang and proposed peace negotiations.  In order to strengthen his confidence, he also visited the British Consul in Chengdu Juldian, the French Consul in Chengdu Pierre, the Russian Consul in Chengdu Sergei and the American Consul in Chengdu Sherlock.  These countries originally wanted to help Japan, so they naturally agreed to go together.

    Wu Tingfang met them and said he would report it to the commander-in-chief.  After all, he has no power to decide whether to start peace talks with Japan. Wang Yuze must have the final say.

    Kawaguchi Yuichi expressed his understanding and proposed to see Wang Yuze in person, but Wu Tingfang refused.  Helpless, Kawaguchi Yuichi had to express repeatedly that the Empire of Japan hopes that peace can be restored in the Far East and that Western Sichuan can consider the people on both sides.

    Wu Tingfang looked at Kawaguchi Yuichi¡¯s hypocritical look and wanted to spit on him.  When Japan launched the Sino-Japanese War of 1898-1894, why didn't it think about the people of the two countries?  Now that I have been defeated, I have no choice but to evade responsibility without these high-sounding reasons.

    During this period, consuls from various countries also expressed concerns about this matter.  Countries have huge interests in the Far East and hope that peace can be restored in the Far East as soon as possible.  At the same time, he expressed his appreciation for Japan's attitude of caring for the people and hoped that Western Sichuan would also show sincerity.

    Wu Tingfang smiled and said nothing more.  Of course, he was very clear about the intentions of the great powers. He simply did not want Western Sichuan to slaughter Japan too hard, and wanted to support Japan and become enemies of Western Sichuan.  However, Western Sichuan is not Manchu and Qing Dynasty, so it will naturally not be coerced by foreign powers.

    After seeing off the consuls from various countries, Wu Tingfang immediately rushed to the inspection envoy's house to see Wang Yuze and relay the news to him.

    "Commander, the Japanese can't hold on any longer. That little dwarf Kawaguchi Yuichi has officially expressed his willingness to negotiate on behalf of the Japanese government!" Wu Tingfang said.  When he rushed to Wang Yuze's study, Wang Yuze had just finished discussing the next stage of military operations with the army and navy.

    Now, the Japanese army in the Liaodong Peninsula has become a turtle in the urn. As long as the Western Sichuan Army uses the army and navy to blockade the Liaodong Peninsula, it can trap the more than 100,000 Japanese army who have lost supplies to death.  As for the other more than 100,000 Japanese troops on the Korean peninsula, with the Korean Strait blocked, they also cannot get any supplies. It is equally easy for the Western Sichuan Army to destroy them.  However, at this point in the war, the Western Sichuan Army can achieve final victory even without relying on force.  These more than 100,000 Japanese troops are waiting for them to occupy the Korean peninsula as a bargaining chip in negotiations with Japan.  If Japan does not agree to the conditions of Western Sichuan, the Western Sichuan Army will use these more than 100,000 days toThe army was also dealt with.

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