Tokyo, Imperial Palace. Emperor Meiji dragged his sick body and summoned the officials of the Japanese cabinet, and the elders of Japanese politics were also ordered to attend the imperial meeting. Emperor Meiji's face at this time was very ugly, and there was no blood on his face at all, as if he might drive the crane west at any time. The reason why he hasn't hung up until now is completely by holding on to it in one breath.

During the period when Prime Minister Saionji Gongwang and Foreign Minister Lin Dong were stranded in the Chinese Empire, Minister of the Interior Yuan Jing temporarily assumed the post of prime minister. That's just scratching the surface, though. After the intervention of the elders, the political situation in Japan was actually in the hands of these elders.

"Gentlemen, Kobe, Osaka, and Nagoya, reduced to ruins. Hundreds of thousands of imperial civilians died tragically. The tragic death of thousands of future warriors of the empire at the Etajima Naval Academy, as well as those naval officers and sailors of Kure Harbor. This is undoubtedly a blood feud between the empire and China. Now, is there a way for the government to get out of the current situation? Emperor Meiji asked. Although, his voice was hoarse and seemed to be out of breath. However, in the face of his questioning, these high-ranking Japanese officials could only bow their heads and not answer.

The destruction of Kobe, Osaka and Nagoya did come at a heavy cost to the Japanese. Not to mention anything else, the tragic deaths of hundreds of thousands of people have caused an uproar in Japan. The total population of Japan is only a few tens of millions. The number of people killed by the Chinese navy in these three cities is equivalent to one percent of Japan's total population. What's even more frightening is that this is just the beginning. No one knows whether the Chinese navy's attacks will continue. Which city will be destroyed next? How much will Japan lose in this war?

"Your Majesty, we have already expressed our protest to the people of China. However, the people of China did not pay any attention to us at all. In Europe, however, we accuse the atrocities of the Chinese people. The whole of Europe is full of voices sympathetic to us. The people of China will definitely be under tremendous pressure. When the time comes, they will definitely not dare to attack the empire itself again. Minister of the Interior Hara Kei said.

However, Emperor Meiji was obviously not satisfied with such an answer. What he wants is a definitive solution to the problem, not government speculation. In case, the Chinese simply do not eat this set. What if you continue to attack?

"Your Majesty, there is only one way to stop the attack of the Chinese people, and that is to sign a peace agreement with the Chinese people. However, the price demanded by the people of China was too high for us to agree to their terms. The people of China shelled our coastal cities in order to force us to accede to their terms. Shan County Youpeng said. As the most senior person among the remaining elders in Japan. Aritomo Yamaguchi has a huge influence in Japanese politics. Even Emperor Meiji had to take his opinion into account in many cases.

"The appetite of the people of China is huge, but we don't have anything to do about it right now. Can they only be left to the slaughter? "Emperor Meiji was very angry. I think that before the war began, these guys swore to him that Japan would be able to win. However, it was to the end. However, the Japanese army and navy were defeated, and now even the mainland has been attacked by the Chinese navy. This is for Japan. It's a complete disgrace. In the decades since the Meiji Restoration, Emperor Meiji did not want such an outcome.

The ministers were silent, and judging by the current situation, it was really like this. The Chinese Empire already had the absolute upper hand, and neither the army nor the navy could compete with the Japanese Empire. As a direct result, Japan is now in an extremely disadvantaged position. The Chinese Empire could slaughter Japan at will, and if Japan did not accept the conditions proposed by the Chinese Empire, the Chinese Empire could attack them at will.

After a long while, Yama Prefecture Youpeng said, "Your Majesty, the Great Japanese Empire is in this war. We have already lost a lot, and we no longer have the capital to confront the Chinese Empire. If we do not accept the conditions put forward by the Chinese Empire, then their offensive will continue. The next city to be attacked may be Kitakyushu, Shizuoka, or even Tokyo. ”

Emperor Meiji's face changed dramatically, and Tokyo was the capital of Japan. If even Tokyo was attacked, what would it be?

"We must not allow the Shina people to attack Tokyo!" Emperor Meiji said through gritted teeth.

"Hey!" The ministers replied one after another. However, the voice of their answer seemed so unconfident. After all, the initiative is not in their hands. If the Chinese Empire had to attack Tokyo, then there really was nothing they could do.

"How's Tokyo's defense?" Emperor Meiji was very worried.

"Your Majesty, we have six divisions in Tokyo, a full 150,000 men. If necessary, ten more divisions can be mobilized. If the Shina wanted to attack Tokyo, it would be impossible. War Minister Masashi Terauchi said.

"What if the Chinese attack from the sea? Just like Kobe, Osaka and Nagoya, what about the direct destruction of Tokyo? "Emperor Meiji is not so easy to bluff. The Chinese Empire may not have landed in Japan at this time. However, this does not mean that the Chinese Empire is not afraid of shelling Tokyo. With the examples of Kobe, Osaka and Nagoya, Emperor Meiji did not think Japan could resist it.

"Your Majesty, the Navy has strengthened the defenses of the Uraga Waterway. We built fortifications on both the Miura Peninsula and the Boso Peninsula. In the Uraga waterway, we have also laid minefields, and destroyers and torpedo boats have been deployed in Tokyo Bay. As long as the warships of the people dare to come, keep them and let them have no return. Admiral Minister Minoru Saito said.

Hearing Minoru Saito say this, Emperor Meiji breathed a sigh of relief. However, this is not a long-term solution!

"Let's find a way to come to an agreement with the Shina people. This time, if the Great Japanese Empire loses, it will have to admit defeat. Just look for a chance to win it back later. If we allow the people to go on like this, then we will pay an even greater price. The royal family can be responsible for part of the war reparations demanded by the Shina people. Emperor Meiji said. Although the wealth of the Japanese imperial family is not much, it is definitely not a small amount. Especially in the First Sino-Japanese War, the Japanese army in Korea and China collected a lot of wealth.

"Hey!" The ministers all replied. With Emperor Meiji's instructions, then they have no scruples. In addition, if the royal family could afford a portion of the war reparations, the government's financial pressure would not be so great.

However, when the latest news was obtained that the Chinese Navy did not continue to go north after leaving Ise Bay, but returned to the sea, the Japanese were relieved.

After receiving instructions from home, Xiyuan Temple Gongwang and Lin Dong continued to negotiate with the Chinese Empire. However, the conditions they were able to accept were still far from the expectations of the Chinese Empire, so that the negotiations did not achieve much effect.

However, after the Chinese navy returned to war, it stopped shelling Japanese coastal cities, making the Japanese less urgent. This, of course, was intentional on the part of the Chinese Empire.

The main fleet of the Chinese Navy, after returning to the port of Arthur, underwent a full week of repairs. The sailors disembarked to rest, and the battleship also entered the dock for repairs. Various damaged parts have been replaced. In particular, the main guns of battleships, because of the high-intensity shelling, have long reached the point where they need to be replaced.

On April 15, 4608 (10) of the Yellow Emperor Era, the main force of the Imperial Navy once again set off from the Port of Arthur and sailed into the vast ocean. This time, the main force of the Imperial Navy can be described as pouring out of the nest. In addition to the two 'Longteng-class' battleships and two 'Longyao-class' battlecruisers, there were four 'Northern Seven Provinces' light cruisers, six 'B-class' destroyers and six 'A-class' destroyers, as well as four supply ships. A total of 24 ships, sailing directly to the western Pacific. This time, the target of the offensive of the Imperial Navy will be Tokyo.

After the trimming, all the combat effectiveness of the ships was maintained at the highest level. The four supply ships were also loaded with a large amount of ammunition, ensuring that the Imperial Navy's plan could succeed this time.

Of course, even so, it is not so easy to force your way through the Uraga waterway, enter Tokyo Bay, and shell Tokyo. The odds of success are still not very high.

The departure of the main force of the Imperial Navy from the military port made the Japanese very nervous. Fools also know that when the main force of the Imperial Navy left the military port at this time, it must have gone to Japan to fight. You know, now the Imperial Navy has assembled all the warships except for those warships that blockade the Tsushima Strait and the Sea of Japan.

It's just that the main force of the Japanese Navy was annihilated, and the remaining warships stayed in the military port, and it was impossible to track the whereabouts of the Imperial Navy on the ocean. Although the British fleet and the French fleet, could provide intelligence to the Japanese. However, the fleets deployed in the Far East by the British Navy and the French Navy were both old warships. In the face of the new warships of the Imperial Navy, they were really powerless, and they were easily thrown off by the Imperial Navy.

The Japanese government had no choice but to order the evacuation of residents of Japan's coastal cities to prepare for an attack by the Chinese navy. In addition, the Japanese Navy strengthened the defenses of the Uraga waterway in case of an artillery attack by the Chinese Navy on Tokyo.

On April 23, 4608 (10), the main fleet of the Imperial Navy appeared in Sagami Bay. This immediately made the Japanese government feel like a great enemy. The main force of the Chinese Navy appeared here, and it must have only one purpose. That is undoubtedly going to bombard Tokyo! On the one hand, the Japanese government strengthened the defense of the Uraga waterway, and on the other hand, it asked the British to mediate and avoid this catastrophe. (To be continued.) )