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Piaotian Literature of the Fourth Empire of China www.piaotia.com Chapter 513: Imperial Meeting

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    "The imperial meeting? How could His Majesty the Emperor think of convening the imperial meeting at this time?" Prime Minister Katsura Taro frowned.

    "What? His Majesty the Emperor wants to convene an imperial meeting? Doesn't it require the consent of us ministers?" Yamagata Aritomo said with a dark face.  Although he already knew that Emperor Meiji was very dissatisfied with Japan's defeat in this war, he was not afraid.  Now that all power in Japan is in the hands of the army, even the emperor may not be able to touch him.

    "Your Excellency, Prime Minister, how dare I question His Majesty the Emperor? However, I am worried that some people will stir up trouble in front of His Majesty the Emperor and undermine the stability of Japan!" Prime Minister Katsura Taro said in a sinister tone.

    "Don't worry, we are all for the Empire of Japan, His Majesty the Emperor will understand our difficulties!" Yamagata Aritomo said confidently.

    "Your Excellency, Prime Minister, should I wait until the imperial meeting is over before going to China?" Foreign Minister Aoki Shuzo asked.

    "Of course, in tomorrow's imperial meeting, His Majesty the Emperor will definitely ask about the international situation. How can we do without you as the foreign minister?" Yamagata Yutomo said with a smile.  In this cabinet, except for the Interior Minister Saigo Yumichi and the Tibetan Minister Masayoshi Matsukata, who are not his people, the rest are all his people.  Of course, the position of Marine Minister is vacant, and the Chief of Naval Command, Prince Arisugawa Ehito, is temporarily acting.  However, the main force of the navy has been completely wiped out. Except for a few thousand sailors without warships, not a single sampan is left.  The navy is simply incomparable to the army.  Therefore, although Prince Arisugawa Palace Ehito was of the royal family, Yamagata Aritomo did not take him seriously.

    "Huh!" Prince Arisikawa Palace Prince Weihito, the Minister of Military Order, heard the arrogant words of Shanxian Aritomo.  Very angry.  Then he turned and left.

    "Your Excellency, Prime Minister. I heard that His Majesty the Emperor has frequently summoned Interior Minister Saigo Yumichi and Privy Council Speaker Saionji Konobo recently. I wonder if it will pose a threat to the army?" Riku Prime Minister Katsura Taro said with some worry.

    "There is no need to worry. As long as the Guards Division and the First Division defending Tokyo are under our control, no one can do anything to us!" Yamagata Aritomo said confidently.  The Guards Division and the First Division are the elites of the Japanese Army and serve as important units to defend Tokyo.  These two divisions have long been firmly in the hands of Shanxian Youpeng, so his position is very stable.

    "I'm relieved now!" Lu Xiang Guitaro said with a smile.

    The imperial meeting.  It is a meeting where the Emperor of Japan convenes his cabinet ministers to inquire about government affairs.  Meetings are held irregularly. Generally, if the emperor feels it is necessary, he will issue an order to convene an imperial meeting.  Although major national affairs are generally handled by the cabinet, the emperor still has supreme power.  Especially Emperor Meiji, the emperor who led Japan from weak to strong, was very powerful.

    The imperial meeting was held in the main hall of the Japanese Imperial Palace, Matsunokaku.  It was 8:30 in the morning, half an hour before the meeting, and all the cabinet ministers had arrived.  Kneeling and sitting in the main hall.

    At nine o'clock in the morning, Emperor Meiji appeared in the main hall accompanied by the Minister of the Interior Saigo Yumichi.  All the ministers knelt on the ground, saluted Emperor Meiji, and shouted "Long live the Emperor."  However, Emperor Meiji looked very bad. Although he was only forty-seven years old, his temples were already a little gray.  Suffering from uremia, Emperor Meiji's spirit seemed a little bad.

    "Ministers, please rise!" Emperor Meiji said after sitting down on the throne.  However, his voice seemed weak.

    "Thank you, Your Majesty!" All the ministers returned to their positions.  Although they were sitting on their knees, their waists were straight.

    "Ministers, I would like to know, now that the empire is facing such a threatening outcome, is there any way for the cabinet to overcome the crisis?" Emperor Meiji asked.  Although he was not in good spirits, his eyes still glowed like falcons.

    "Your Majesty, the cabinet is ready. As long as the Chinese dare to land in Japan, the 40 million citizens of the empire will fight the Chinese to the end! As long as they cause huge casualties to the Chinese, they will retreat. The cowardly Chinese  , in the face of huge casualties, we will definitely give in!" Prime Minister Yamagata Aritomo said.

    "Causing huge casualties to the Chinese people? How much price will the empire have to pay? One million? Or two million?" Emperor Meiji said angrily. His chest rose and fell sharply, as if he was enduring the anger.

    "Your Majesty, as long as we can repel the Chinese attack, even if all the 40 million citizens are shattered, it will be worth it!" Minister of War Katsura Taro also said quickly.

    "Forty million citizens are all in pieces? Can Japan still exist?" MeijiThe emperor said angrily.  If all Japanese people die, is there still a need for Japan to exist?  Obviously, he was very dissatisfied with the plan proposed by the army-led cabinet.

    "Your Majesty, Japan has been pushed to a dead end. This is the only way we can do it!" Yamaxian Youpeng replied.

    "Isn't it possible to have peace talks with the Shinas?" Emperor Meiji asked.  He now no longer prays for Japan to win. He only hopes to save Japan and allow Japan to continue to exist.

    "Your Majesty, the conditions proposed by the Chinese are very harsh. If we agree to their conditions, the empire will be destroyed!" Youpeng from Shan County said.

    "Your Majesty, the Chinese have put forward six conditions in total. They are: first, Japan admits defeat and compensates China for one billion pounds! Second, Japan cedes Hokkaido, Kyushu Island and affiliated islands to China! Third, Japan is dissolved  The army and navy can retain part of the police force, and Japan's defense will be taken over by the Chinese Navy! Fourth, Japan canceled the title of the emperor, changed his name to the Japanese king, and came to China to pay homage to the imperial emperor! Fifth, the Japanese army and navy generals who launched the war  , all will be tried by a special military court established by China! Sixth, China will station troops in Japan! No matter which of these conditions, if agreed to, will seriously damage Japan's interests!" Foreign Minister Aoki Shuzo also said.

    "Huh!" Emperor Meiji snorted coldly, his face so gloomy that it seemed like water could drip from his face.  Youpeng and others in Shanxian County were so quarrelsome with him, which made him very angry.  However, there was nothing he could do.  The power of Japan is now in the hands of the Army. Even he does not dare to fall out with the Army easily.  Otherwise, these crazy soldiers might do something.

    "Your Majesty, gentlemen. The conditions of the Chinese people are very harsh, but I think there is no room for negotiation. If Mr. Aoki goes to China this time, he can have a good contact with the Chinese people and strive to win favorable conditions for the empire.  Conditions!" Prince Arisugawa Palace Prince Hito said.  Seeing Yamagata Aritomo and others acting so arrogantly in front of the Emperor, how could he, as a member of the royal family, endure it?

    "His Royal Highness the Prince is right. I went to China this time just to have final discussions with the China government!" said Foreign Minister Aoki Shuzo.

    "Now it seems that it is difficult to dispel the ambitions of the China people towards the empire through diplomatic means. Therefore, military preparations are indispensable. Your Majesty, I sincerely ask your Majesty to agree that from now on, Japan will enter military control. When the China people are defeated,  After the attack, resume!" Shanxian Youpeng suddenly said.  If Japan can be put under military control, his power will increase again, and in many aspects he can even issue orders without the emperor's permission.

    "No. Prime Minister, the implementation of military control will cause social unrest. Japan is already very difficult now. If military control is implemented, I am afraid it will have the opposite effect." said Interior Minister Saigo Yumichi.

    "That's why martial law should be implemented. For example, the empire's food reserves are far from enough. We must provide enough food for the imperial troops!" said the Minister of Army Katsura Taro with a fierce look.

    The two sides immediately started to dispute, but in the end, the Shanxian Youpeng side won.  Emperor Meiji had to agree that from now on, Japan would implement martial law.

    However, Emperor Meiji also took the opportunity to propose that the Minister of Naval Command, Prince Arisugawa Ehito, be appointed as the Minister of the Navy and become one of the five ministers of the cabinet.  In this regard, Shanxian Youpeng did not object.  Anyway, the Japanese Navy has ceased to exist in name only, so it is not a big deal to make Prince Arisugawa Palace Ehihito the Minister of the Navy.

    At ten o'clock in the morning, the imperial meeting ended.  Except for the Minister of the Interior Saigo Yumichi, everyone left the palace.

    "Baga! What exactly does Yamaxian Yupeng want to do? He actually dares to ignore my will. Is he going to rebel?" After the cabinet ministers left, Emperor Meiji immediately roared.  Yamagata Aritomo actually dared to force him at the meeting. This completely ignored the emperor's majesty, which made Emperor Meiji intolerable.

    Minister of the Interior Xixiang Congdao knelt aside and said nothing.  Now that the power has fallen, the emperor's power has also been greatly restricted.

    "Saigo-kun, the empire cannot continue like this. These lunatics will bring the empire to destruction!" Emperor Meiji said sternly.

    "Your Majesty, the army has expanded to two million people, and now no one can restrain these lunatics!" Interior Minister Saigo Yumichi said with some embarrassment.

    "We still have a way. As long as we can control Aritomo Yamagata and Katsura Taro, we can regain control of the army!" Emperor Meiji said.  Obviously, in order to save Japan, he had made up his mind to wrest power from the hands of army bosses such as Yamagata Aritomo.  It¡¯s just?This sounds simple, but in fact it is very difficult.

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