Beiyang reactionaries

Yuyuki Hamaguchi has a stubborn temper.

Very rude to accuse Tanaka Yoshiichi.In the process of Japan's rise, there are two wars that must be discussed, because they are the battles of national destiny.One is the Sino-Japanese War of [-]-[-], which controlled the Korean Peninsula, defeated China, the former East Asian hegemon, and became the East Asian hegemon by itself.Moreover, they took huge amounts of indemnities from China and accumulated large sums of money for their industrialization.

The other is the Russo-Japanese War.

Relying on the Russo-Japanese War, Japan really squeezed into the ranks of world powers.As Japan crushed old imperialist Russia, the world powers acknowledged that Japan had joined them.

But neither war was easy.During the two wars, Japan was short of money and could only win the war by issuing a large amount of war debt.

The Sino-Japanese War was okay, and China's large amount of compensation allowed them to quickly solve their financial problems.But after the Russo-Japanese War, because Japan failed to get compensation, the country's finances were going bankrupt.

"Short-sighted, short-sighted."

Tanaka Yoshiichi pointed to Wakatsuki Reijiro, then pointed to Hamaguchi Yuyuki and said, "You guys are really short-sighted. Can't you see the crisis of the empire?"

Wakatsuki Reijiro and Hamaguchi Yuyuki frowned.

The current situation in Japan is indeed not very good, but the main reason is that the economy is not good.In recent years, the international trade situation has been very poor. In the world, Japanese products cannot compare with American, British, and German products.

In order to increase exports, Japan adopted the method of depreciation, which caused the yen to depreciate rapidly.It was indeed very effective at the beginning, but the result was to make the European and American powers angry.

The yen was directly kicked out of the ranks of world currencies.

Then began to impose high tariffs on Japanese goods.Unable to obtain more markets in European and American countries.And because of the war with China, it lost the Chinese market, which made Japan's exports worse.Japan is a country that is extremely dependent on imports and exports. When exports are hit, the Japanese economy is very bad.

The last few years have been really difficult in Japan.

The financial problem is very serious.

"Tanaka-kun, the current empire is indeed in the most difficult time. The current government has not found a solution to the financial difficulties. That's why we have to improve our relationship with the Chinese government and sell more of our products to them. As long as we It can open up the Chinese market and export products worth about [-] million yen a year. It will greatly alleviate our country’s financial problems.”

"Ha ha."

Yoshiichi Tanaka snorted coldly: "It's ridiculous. The crisis I'm talking about is not our financial crisis. The crisis I'm talking about is, don't you see that the Chinese government is getting tougher? They took Manchuria from us , took away the interests of the Jiaodong Peninsula, and they have begun to take back all the concessions. Not to mention that the Chinese government completely controls their customs and refuses to pay compensation. What they rely on to become more and more tough is to rely on the strengthening of their strength. Their There are more and more military factories, more and more coal factories, more and more steel factories, more and more railways and roads, and even more and more airplanes.”

"I was born in the military, and I know the importance of steel in war. Look at their steel plants. They now have Sichuan Iron and Steel Plant, Hanyang Iron and Steel Plant, Handan Iron and Steel Plant, Tangshan Iron and Steel Plant, Taiyuan Iron and Steel Plant, and Fengtian Iron and Steel Plant. There are Jiangnan Iron and Steel Works, Anshan Iron and Steel Works, and Maanshan Iron and Steel Works. Although the Chinese government has not announced their specific steel production, according to our information and analysis, their current crude steel production should be able to reach 150 million Ton. Wakatsuki-kun, Hamaguchi-kun, do you know how much our current steel production is? It’s just this data. In other words, the current annual steel production in Shina is already as much as ours.”

Tanaka Yoshiichi really attaches great importance to China's intelligence.Therefore, the names of those steel factories in China are casual.

"Of course, the steel output of our two countries is about the same now. It seems nothing. But what you need to know is that two years ago, China's steel production in that year was less than 100 million tons. Two years, China's steel production in two years An increase of 50 tons. Do you find it incredible? Let me tell you, according to the current development of China’s iron and steel industry, they will increase their production by hundreds of thousands of tons every year, and may even increase by 100 million tons a year.”

"You two, this is the strength of a big country and the speed of development of a big country. In a few years, the annual steel output of China may be 500 million tons. What about us? According to our current situation, the next five or six Can our steel output exceed 300 million tons within a year?"

Tanaka Yoshiichi was really anxious.

These Japanese politicians only pay attention to the immediate things, and have no long-term vision at all.What is a financial crisis?What a problem.

Didn't even see a bigger crisis.

"Wakatsuki-kun, Hamaguchi-kun, you have to look further away. China is a big country, their development speed is too fast, and their size is too large. Every time you see some data released by the China government, don't you feel it at all? Are you afraid? Don’t you have a little sense of crisis? I see some data released by them, and I dare not sleep every night. The financial crisis is just a temporary crisis. But you know what will happen if China is allowed to continue to develop What kind of crisis? This is the biggest crisis of the empire, and the biggest crisis of the empire comes from China."

"Then what does Tanaka-kun mean?"

Wakatsuki Reijiro looked at Tanaka Yoshiichi and asked.

"War, only war is the best way to restore the current unfavorable situation of the empire. Mr. Yuyuan has a point of view that I agree with the most. The current war is no longer the war that can be ended with the army against the army as before, but two. The contest of comprehensive national strength. We should gather all our strength to serve our war. As long as we do this, we can defeat any opponent. The only thing we can do now is to concentrate our strength to defeat the Chinese army again. Just like 30 years ago, let the Chinese government pay us at least one billion yen in compensation, and hand over the Manchuria region to us again. This is the only way out, the only way for the empire to get rid of the current crisis."

"Tanaka-kun, do you know what the result of your venture failed?"

Reijiro Wakatsuki shook his head.

He did not accept Tanaka Yoshiichi's point of view, and said directly: "You will put the empire in a state of doom. You are right, the biggest enemy of the empire is China. The growth of China's strength poses the greatest threat to the empire and seriously affects the empire. The interests of the Far East. But even so, I do not agree with a war with China. Because I want to consider the long-term stability of the empire, and I will never let the empire risk its collapse to go to war with China."

"Wakatsuki-kun, now we still have a chance to defeat China. But if the strength of China's government continues to increase and the strength of China's army continues to increase in a few years, our chances will become increasingly slim. You will The hope of the empire has been completely cut off. The great situation created by our ancestors for more than half a century will be wiped out in our hands."

Wakatsuki Reijiro still shook his head.

Although he didn't speak, the meaning was very clear.Tanaka Yoshiichi stared at Wakatsuki Reijiro carefully, and found that Wakatsuki Reijiro didn't look back at all, nor did he appear to be persuaded by himself.

Tanaka Yoshiichi suddenly laughed.

I don't know what kind of mood it is, but Reijiro Wakatsuki found Tanaka Yoshiichi's smile a bit pervasive.

"The empire is in danger, the empire is in danger."

Tanaka Yoshiichi stood up, watched Reijiro Wakatsuki and Yuyuki Hamaguchi shook their heads, and walked out.But halfway through, Tanaka Yoshiichi turned his head and said: "Korean Peninsula, don't stop attacking. You have to go all out and wipe out those rebels. The Korean Peninsula is the biggest springboard for the empire. If there is no Korean Peninsula, the empire will really be destroyed." It's dangerous."

After speaking, Tanaka Yoshiichi left again.After walking all the way to the door, Yoshiichi Tanaka's face suddenly turned cold.

His face was gloomy and uncertain.

After carefully looking at the cabinet meeting place behind him, he stomped away.

"Prime Minister, do you see Master Tanaka?"

"It's too risky, too risky. Tanaka-kun is a bit crazy. In fact, when Prime Minister Kato was here, the two of us talked about it. We should slowly accept the fact that China is no longer China. It is impossible to get 30% if we fight against China now. The results of the war years ago. China is too big and the population is too large, and its strength can rise rapidly in a short period of time. There are 150 million troops and so many reserves who have received military training. Fighting is not good for us. Prime Minister Kato once There have been some ideas, that is, to cooperate with China to build the Asian world."

"Cooperate with China?"

"I had this idea before. But look at the attitude of Mr. Tanaka, and then the attitude of the military department. Mr. Tanaka, if you really follow his method, the empire doesn't know what will happen. I can't afford to bet."

Reijiro Wakatsuki sighed.

After thinking for a while, he said, "Have you prepared the money for the front line?"

"When something like this happened this time, it was delayed. And I don't have much money in my hands now. So many troops were mobilized in this war, so many supplies entered the Korean Peninsula, and money needs to be invested to restore the traffic on the Korean Peninsula. In my hands There's really no money left."

"No matter what, you have to raise another fund. Mr. Tanaka is right. The matter on the Korean Peninsula really needs to be resolved as soon as possible, and it cannot be delayed. The military expenses that should be given to them should be sent to them, and the military supplies that should be given to them should also be paid. Send it up as soon as possible. Send a telegram to General Saito to let him resume the attack as soon as possible."

"it is good."

485

"Brother Xinye (Yang Wei), let go of the matter at hand first, and return to Beijing with me. There are still a lot of things to do after returning to Beijing."

"it is good."

Duan Xun came to Nanjing by boat from Anqing.

For a few days, I have been paying attention to the news in Japan every day.Of course, on the way here, telegrams have been sent to all the central government officials in the southern region, telling them to gather in Nanjing and return to Beijing with Duan Xun.Duan Xun stayed in Nanjing for a few hours to meet them.

Talk to them about work.If it is true that there is still a lot of work to be done, it is okay to stay here for now.If there is nothing too urgent, follow Duan Xun back to Beijing.

Duan Xun also met Yang Wei in Nanjing.

During this time, Yang Wei was mainly responsible for the merger with the Kuomintang.Although the two parties have reached an agreement, there are still many steps left.

Yang Wei is the person in charge and very busy.