Meiji hesitated for a moment and asked him, "Hiss Secretary of Foreign Affairs, why do you say that,

"Your Majesty, simply and rudely provoking the incident without any diplomatic means is a great taboo for a country! Not to mention that once a force is used, it will inevitably cause a strong backlash from China. At that time, both Taiwan, Ryukyu, North Korea, and even our Japan's interests in China will be greatly affected! And the interests of Western countries in China will also be affected by wars. Saigo Jun has never thought about these seriously! If that is the case, it will also cause dissatisfaction between Western countries with Japan!" [..com]

Terashima Sonya's face turned red and he refuted incoherently, "Your Majesty, even if you cannot forget the death of Junyi-kun Kawamura, please try your best to restrain your resentment! You are the leader of the imperial country and the hope of the Japanese people. You should put your resentment aside for China and put the interests of the country first! This is your enlightenment as the Emperor, isn't it?"

"You mean, do I have no distinction between public and private? In the past ten years, I have never slept peacefully. Every time I close my eyes, I will see the bloody faces of Kawamura, Taikuroda, Saito and Saito! Do you know what it feels like?" The Emperor shouted sternly, "Do you want me to do my best to appease their loyal souls who died for the country and die with a smile on the Ullamban Festival, because...for false reasons, to stop the road of travel?"

"Your Majesty, I also know that Kawamura's death is a sacrifice for the country. For his loyal soul, he can smile in the sky. One day he will have to ask the Chinese for this hatred. But Japan is not enough to start a war with China!" Terashima Sorno felt heartbroken when he saw that he could not convince the emperor. He turned around and looked at his colleague sitting upright like him. "Iwakura, you are the Junqing of the Army. Please say something, is it time for the Japanese army to challenge the Chinese now?"

Iwakura was speechless. In the tenth year of Xianfeng, the total number of male population in Japan was 18 million (this is not a fictional number, but information can be found), but the Japanese Army's standing troops were only 350,000. Since the Meiji issued the conscription order in the fourth year, and it has been less than seven years today, the level of training of the troops is far from enough to cope with what Terashima Sonosa said in the words of the words, and the possible consequences of angering China.

He was neither willing to speak against his conscience nor was he willing to interfere with the concert between His Majesty the Emperor and Saigo Congdao, the monarch and minister, because of his own words, so he had to choose to remain silent.

"Hey!" Terashima Soro was very anxious, and he shouted in a very rude tone regardless of the Emperor's presence. "Now is not the time for you to remain silent, right? Isn't this the time to discuss the "Regulations on the Military Ordinance of the Military Order of the Army's Martial Arts and the Military Registration". Your silence will not represent your opinion. As the Army Minister, shouldn't you put the interests of the country first and stop His Majesty the Emperor from such a wrong order?"

Although Terashima Sono's words were rude, they also played a role. Iwakura Tsubasa saw him helplessly and had to express his opinions. "Your Majesty, I also think that if you talk about the maritime war, the imperial kingdom may not be able to compete with the Qing Dynasty. However, if the war breaks out, the future trend is unpredictable. If you really anger China and extend the war to the Japanese archipelago, the country will be in danger.

"You mean, as long as there is no decisive battle on land, Japan doesn't have to worry about China?"

"I mean, no one present can have the ability to predict the future. Once we take the lead in provoking the war, what kind of response China will respond is not something we can grasp."

The Emperor had to consider the opinions of Lu Junqing. It was indeed as he said, if he only relied on the navy and the Qing fleet to fight together, it would be fine, but once a decisive battle occurred on land, the consequences would be savage! He pondered for a moment and asked the brothers Congdao and Takaho Saigo, who were strongly fighting, "Sigo Jun, what do you think?"

"I think the concerns of the Army Secretary and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs are unnecessary. Taiwan is a place where the Chinese government's government decrees are not reached, that is, a land without a master. Our imperial country sent troops to conquer a land without a master. Will the Chinese go to war with our country for such reasons? Even if the war begins here, we will not be afraid at all!"

Saigo Congdao said loudly, "Even if the Qing Dynasty in China intends to withdraw its original wrong remarks, it is limited to Taiwan - Your Majesty! Entering Taiwan with hundreds of troops will add an indestructible overseas fortress to the imperial state; failing, it will only return to the country. What crisis can be said? Do you think that the Chinese really dare to ignore the Western countries and launch troops to invade? Haha, haha!"

"Don't Saigo Kwan know? The Emperor Xianfeng of China always had inexplicable hostility to Japan. If they were given an excuse to attack, how could you guarantee that they would really not attack the Japanese mainland?" Cabinet Minister Hirofumi Ito suddenly asked.

"This..." Saigo Congdao was stunned for a moment. It is true that Emperor Xianfeng hated the Japanese, and it was no secret. If he really took this opportunity to start a war, he would be the biggest sinner in Japan's history! But his intention to serve the country still made him unwilling to surrender to the other party's questioning. "I think this is not enough to worry about for the time being. If China really wants to use this to cause trouble, I am willing to take responsibility!"

"All responsibility? Can you afford it?" Hirofumi Ito immediately asked, "China is now looking for excuses and you are busy taking the initiative to deliver it. At that time, with your own strength, how much can you afford? Can you stand at Yokosuka Port and fight against the gunboats of the Chinese team? I think you are not as hard as you are yet?"

With a word, everyone laughed.

The Emperor also gave him nothing to his opinion, "Then, as you see, this matter cannot be carried out?"

"If Your Majesty intends to seize Taiwan and stop there, it may not be impossible to proceed."

"oh?"

"The Chinese have good face. As long as they can get the consent of Western countries and are willing to mediate afterwards, the Chinese think that the development of things will not be as bad as expected due to the intervention and mediation of Western countries." Hirobuki Ito said, "But I think this matter must be approved by Western countries in advance before it can move forward."

"Yaoqing, what do you think?"

Terajima Sonoshima heard Hirofumi Ito's words and felt that it was plausible. Could it be that if Western countries intervene, this matter can achieve the expected result? "I cannot agree with the opinions of the Cabinet Minister. Who can know about the future? Not to mention, do Western countries have the courage and responsibility to offend China in Asian affairs than to preserve Japan?"

Such an answer made the Emperor very dissatisfied. "How do you know that they would not be willing when they had not consulted the opinions of Western countries in advance?"

"Your Majesty, if your Majesty is determined to do so, I can only resign!"

Emperor Akihiro's expression tightened and he suddenly relaxed again, "If this is your wish, I must not fail to accept it."

"His Majesty?"

He waved his hand and interrupted Hirobuki Ito and continued, "But before this, you can't leave! You are the Japanese Foreign Secretary, and you still have to be responsible for many things - as the cabinet minister said, you should first report to the ministers of various countries and wait for their opinions to answer.

how?"

Terashima Sonno knew that the emperor's determination could not be changed, which made him feel extremely painful: just treat this mission as the last chance to serve the country and His Majesty! "Yes!"

There are two things that Western countries need to do. The first is to seek the other party’s consent to Japan’s entry into Taiwan Island; the other is that when China responds violently to this, it can be mediated by Western countries.

These things were carried out under extremely secret circumstances, but if more than two people knew the so-called secret, it would be clear to the whole world. The Chinese were no exception. When the news came to Beijing, Yi was shocked: If Japan really raised troops to Taiwan based on the emperor's misunderstanding, theoretically, it would be difficult for China to come up with any countermeasures! Would the Japanese just let the Japanese take over Taiwan?

"Lansun, your belly is wide. Let me tell you, have there been such old examples in all dynasties that are used by others?"

Lan Sun is the name of Li Hongzao. He was the first to join the Military Affairs Office in the 23rd year of Xianfeng. He and Shen Baozhen and Zhu Guang joined the Military Affairs Office. At that time, Zhao Guang died of illness. Only Yi and Yan Jingming were left in the Military Affairs Office. Although they were not very old, they were in power for many years and worked hard, and looked old. The emperor saw that there was no one in the Military Affairs Office, so he chose three more people from the court officials. It has been five years since today.

"The current major changes are only for a thousand years, but only I am the Qing Dynasty. How can there be a precedent to follow?" Although Li Hongzao did not have a long time to enter the quota, he was a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet and the leader of the Qingliu after Zeng Guofan's death. So shortly after entering the quota, he became the veritable Chief Secretary of Military Affairs. Even Yan Jingming suppressed him.

After hearing Yi's question, he used a small comb of pineapple wood to combed the beard under his chin and said slowly, "However, if this matter is true, the North and South China Navy will step up the rotation defense of Taiwan, Penghu and Xiamen. What do you think?"

Shen Baozhen was appointed as the Minister of War and was dedicated to naval affairs. He had originally climbed to such a high position several years with his qualifications and years. However, before the Vietnamese navy fought at sea in the 21st year of Xianfeng, he violated the order and fired the artillery first, which was not tolerated by Qingliu. Although the emperor understood it in his heart, the public opinion should not be ignored. He had to suppress him for a few more years and waited for the gust of wind to gradually start.

"What Lan Gong said is that groundlessness may not be without reason." Shen Baozhen answered steadily, "I think it's better to ask the emperor to decide this matter."
Chapter completed!